Benrinnes Distillery, Speyside

Benrinnes Distillery lays on a summit that overlooks the lower Spey Valley, the mass of the Cairngorm Mountains and to the north, the sweep of the Moray Firth, with distant Easter Ross and Sutherland hills beyond. The Ben Rinnes mountain range (spanning nearly 50 square kilometres) gives its name to the distillery, albeit as one word. In its early years, the distillery started as part of a farm, with various outhouses converted into still houses.

It was rebuilt as a distillery when the buildings were destroyed during floods in 1829. Benrinnes underwent a second makeover in 1955, and the traditional floor maltings were replaced by a so-called 'Saladin Box' in 1964. This giant flat box mechanically turns the germinating barley inside and allows air to pass through it. The Saladin Box (named after its inventor, Charles Saladin) was removed again in 1984 when Benrinnes stopped producing its own malted barley.

Aside from a brief closure during the two world wars, the distillery has enjoyed almost continual production and is now owned by Diageo. Blenders highly acclaim the whisky, which has a robust and meaty style with a viscous texture and spicy finish. In 1991, the first official single malt was released from the distillery Flora & Fauna, which is 15 years old. Limited older special releases are also produced.

(Adapted from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024)

Speyside Whisky

To some Speyside represents the jewel in whisky’s crown. Speyside is the home of legal whisky production and it’s best known examples. Around the world Glenlivet, Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenrothes and Glenfarclas typify all that whisky, at it’s best has to offer. At it’s heart running from the Monadhliath mountains north to the sea, is the River Spey. It is the fastest flowing river in Britain, and also well known for its salmon fishing.

Speyside is the principal whisky-producing region: Speyside has within it some forty-six operating distilleries - over half the total number in the entire Scotland.

Speysides are essentially sweet whiskies. They have little peaty character They are typically highly perfumed, feminine and elegant.

The classical nature of Speyside’s malts means that a number of the finest malts are used almost exclusively for blending. It is the top Speysider’s that give good blends their ‘Top Dressing’. 

Malts such as Mortlach, Glen Elgin, Strathmill and Benrinnes are rarely found as distillery bottlings, however when individual casks are tracked down by independent bottlers such as our Own Selection Single Malt Whiskies the resultant whisky can be quite wonderful.