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SPEYSIDE |
HIGHLANDS |
ISLAY
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ISLANDS |
CAMPBLETOWN |
LOWLANDS |
SILENT STILLS
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Speyside |
The whiskies from Speyside are
typically the sweetest of the malts. |
Speyside has
always been at the centre of whisky
distilling in Scotland. Lying between
Inverness and Aberdeen in the Grampian
mountains, there are no less than 84
distilleries producing whisky (and 12
currently not producing). The whiskies
from Speyside are typically the
sweetest of the malts, with a variety
of strength from light, floral flavors
to heavy, rich, sherried flavors.
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Allt-a-Bhainne

A new distillery located on the
slopes of Benrinnes and was built in
1975. The distillery is owned by
Chivas, and was re-opened in 2005
after a three year hiatus. There has
never been an official bottling of
Allt-a-Bhainne but we’ve seen
several independent bottlings
available. Allt-a-Bhainne’s water
supply comes from the
Scurran & Rowantree Burns.
Gaelic Meaning: Burn of Milk
Established: 1975
Pronunciation:
olta VAYne
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 4
Tours: Not open to the public
Location:
Glenrinnes, Banffshire AB55 4DI
Style
Light, floral
Range
None from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Cadenhead)
www.chivas.com
http://www.wmcadenhead.com/ |
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Aberlour

Located at the meeting of the rivers
Lour and Spey, Aberlour is one of
Scotland’s premier and most
beautiful distilleries. The
distillery provides one of the best
tours you’ll find and you can even
bottle your own dram. Aberlour
produces full bodied sherry whisky.
If you like Macallan, you’ll love
Aberlour. The distillery uses spring
water that rises through peat and
granite from Ben Aberlour is an
ancient and beautiful place with a
community that dates back over
fourteen hundred years. Aberlour
gets its water supply from the Ben
Rinnes. Their cask strength
expression A’bunadh (the origin)
can’t be beat if you like a big
sherried whisky.
Gaelic Meaning: Mouth of the
chattering burn
Established: 1879
Pronunciation: Ab er lore
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 4
Tours: By appointment only
Phone: 01340 881249
Location: Aberlour, Banffshire, AB3
9PJ
Style
Full bodied, big sherry, fruity,
after dinner
Range
10 Year Old
15 Year Old
‘a’bunadh’ Cask Strength
Tasting Notes
http://www.aberlour.co.uk/welcome.asp
www.chivas.com |
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Ardmore

Ardmore Distillery lies on the main
Aberdeen
to Inverness railway line at
Kennethmont. The distillery's main
function is to provide whisky for
the Teacher's blend.
Ardmore
is a very peaty dram for a Speyside
and is available primarily through
independent bottlers. Ardmore’s
water supply comes from
Knockandy Hill.
Established: 1898
Pronunciation: Ard More
Region: Speyside
# of stills: 8
Tours: Not open to the public
Location:
Kennethmont, Huntly, Aberdeenshire,
AB54 4NH
Style
Malty, creamy & peaty
Range
A major part of the Teachers blend
None from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Signatory)
www.allieddomecqplc.com |
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Auchroisk

The distillery is on the main road
between Craigellachie and Keith. Up
until recently this dram was
marketed as the Singleton of
Auchroisk at 10 years old, however
this bottling has now been withdrawn
from the market and replaced by a 10
year old Auchroisk Flora and Fauna
bottling. Water comes from the Mulben Burn and Dorie's Well.
Gaelic Meaning: Ford of the Red
Stream
Established: 1973
Pronunciation: Ach Roysk
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 8
Tours: Not open to the public
Phone: 01542 885000
Location: Mulben, Banffshire, AB55
6XS
Style
Sweet fruit, delicate
Range
10 yr Flora Fauna
28 yr old ‘rare malts’
www.malts.com |
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Aultmore

The Aultore distillery's runs four
stills and no longer does its own
floor malting. Powered by steam
until the late 1960’s this
distillery produces a dry floral and
oaky dram. Currently, this
distillery doesn’t produce any
single malt bottlings. Aultmore
draws is water from the
Auchinderran Burn. The majority of Aultmore’s production
goes into the popular Dewar’s
blends.
Gaelic Meaning: Big Burn
Established: 1896
Pronunciation: Ault More
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 4
Tours: Not open to the public
Location:
Keith, Banffshire, AB45 3JT
Style
Dry, oak, floral
Range
12 year old
www.dewars.com
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Balmenach

Historians believe this distillery operated
illegally before it was licensed
1824, by its founder James McGregor.
Balmenach has had a unique history
and was mothballed from most of the
1990’s. Currently owned by Inver
House Distillers and this whisky may
be a powerhouse in the future. To
date Inver House has only produced
limited edition bottlings. Many
connoisseurs are hopeful that a wide
release will be available soon.
Established: 1824
Pronunciation:
bal Meh nack
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 6
Tours: By appointment only
Location: Cromdale, Grantown-on-Spey,
Monayshire, PH26 3PF
Style
Full bodied, heathery, sherry
Range
None from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Inverarity and Dearstalker)
INVERARITY ANCESTRAL 14 year old
is one of Jeff’s favorites, a sherry
powerhouse. The Macallan has nothing
on this one.
http://www.balmenachdistillery.com/
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Balvenie

Located next to Glenfiddich, and
owned by the Grant family which
established both distilleries.
Balvenie was built next to the
Balvenie castle 1892. Not as widely
known as its sister Distillery
Glenfiddich but equally appreciated
by connoisseurs. The distillery
still uses some of its own malt from
barley produced on the Grant family
farms. Belvenie produces several
unique wood-finished whiskies that
have developed a large following.
Established: 1892
Pronunciation:
bal Vee nie
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 8
Tours: Open to the public (visitor
center opened in 2005)
Phone: 01340 820373
Location: Dufftown, Banffshire, AB55
4BB
Style
Offers unique wood finishes, medium
bodied and rich
You either love or hate this one
Range
Double Wood 12 year old
Portwood 1991
Single Barrel 15 year old
New Wood
Portwood 21 year old
Balvenie Thirty
The Balvenie Cask 191
http://www.balvenie.com/
http://www.grantusa.com/
Watch Balvenies' Brand Ambassador
discuss the Balvenie range
Balvenie
& Glenfiddich
Click Here to Watch
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Banff

The distillery was built by James Simpson Jr. in
1863 to replace a distillery of the
same name from 1824.
Banff practiced triple distillation
before converting to the double
distillation method. Banff had a
rich and unique history, the
distillery was plagued fires, and
was damaged by a severe blaze in
1877. During World War 2 an
enemy plane bombed the site,
destroying warehouse number 12. The
Banffshire Journal reported that
thousands of gallons of whisky were
lost and it is said that Boyndie
burn ran with so much whisky that
farm animals became intoxicated. In
1933 the distillery came under the
ownership of SMD and was closed and
demolished in 1983. Banff can still
be readily had through independent
bottlings.
Established: 1863
Pronunciation: Banff
Region: Speyside
Tours: No longer in operation /
Silent Still
Phone: None
Location: No longer standing
Style
Light, grassy
Range
None from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Signatory or cadenhead)
http://www.wmcadenhead.com/
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Benrinnes

The Benrinnes distillery takes its name from the
Benrinnes
Mountain that dominates the skyline
in the area. The present distillery
was built in 1835 after the original
Benrinnes distillery washed away in
the 'great flood' of 1829. Benrinnes
practices a form of partial triple
distillation, which adds to this
whiskies creamy rich character. The
distillery's capacity was doubled in
1966 when three additional stills
were added. The first official
bottling of Benrinnes was launched
in 1991 when UDV released a 15 year
old 'Flora and Fauna' expression.
Went under major renovations in the
1950s and is currently owned by
Diageo.
Benrinnes draws its water from the
Scurran & Rowantree Burns.
Established: 1835
Pronunciation: Ben Rinnes
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 4
Tours: Not open to the Public
Phone: 01340 872500
Location: Aberlour, Banffshire,
AB38 9WN
Style
Full bodied, assertive, smokey
Range
Only a few from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Gordan and Macphail’s
Connoisseurs Choice)
BENRINNES 'Flora & Fauna'
http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/op_brandsConnoisseurs.html
http://www.malts.com
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Benromach

This distillery just celebrated their hundred
year anniversary in 1998 and was
officially reopened by Prince
Charles. Whisky production started
at Benromach nine years after
construction in 1907 but the
distillery was quickly closed.
Production began again 1939 but was
closed again in 1983. Stability
finally arrived for Benromach, when
Gordon & McPhail bought the
distillery in 1992. The distillery
has since started producing its own
line and draws its water from the
Chapelton Springs.
Established: 1898
Pronunciation: Ben ro Mach
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 2
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01309 675968
Location: Invererne Road,
Forres, Moray, IV36 3EB
Style
Full bodied, malty
Range
Traditional
18 year old
21 Tokaji Finish
22 year old Port Finnish
25 year old
1980 Cask Strength
1968
http://www.benromach.com/
http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/ob_gordonMacPhail.html
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Benriach

Independent again after a long interesting past, Benriach
was built in 1898 by the founder of
the Longmorn Distillery and sat idle
from a considerable length of time.
In 2004, the distillery was bought
by a group headed by Billy Walker
who spent over 30 years in the
whisky industry. His son is the
Brand Ambassador and tours the world
promoting this unique ‘sleeping
giant’. Benriach has since come on
strong and introduced many new
expressions to the Benriach range
including a peated line that has
drawn rave reviews. The distillery
is located less than a mile away
from Longmorn, and three miles south
of
Elgin. Benriachs water supply comes from springs located
underground, below the distillery
and they still do floor malting. In
a few years, Benriach has the
potential to be mentioned in the
same breath as other Speyside heavy
weights like, Macallan, The
Glenlivet and Glenfiddich. Get your
hands on a bottle of the 16 year old
expressions and we promise you won’t
be disappointed.
Gaelic Meaning: Hill of the red deer
Established: 1898
Pronunciation: Ben Ree ack
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 4
Tours: Not open to the public
Phone: 01542 783400
Location: Longmorn, Elgin,
Morayshire, IV30 3SJ
Style
Classic Speyside, malty, honey notes
Range
12 year old
16 year old
20 year old
The heart of Speyside
Curiositas (peated malt)
http://www.benriachdistillery.co.uk
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Braeval (Braes
of Glenlivet)

Braeval, is one of the three distilleries in the
glen of the Livet, and was once
known as Braes of Glenlivet until
its name was changed in 1995. It has
no maltings on site but sports an
artificial pagoda roof that helps
the distillery blend into its
local surroundings. The distillery
is unusual in that it has no
warehouse or cask filling facilities
on site, the spirit is shipped to a
warehouse in Keith. One source
claims that Braeval is 1,100 feet
above sea level, which if true would
make it higher than Dalwhinnie, who
normally claims the title of highest
distillery in
Scotland.
Gaelic Meaning: Hillside
Established: 1973
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 6
Tours: Not open to the public
Location: Chapeltown, Ballindalloch,
Banffshire, AB37 9JS
Style
Light & sweet
Range
None from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Gordan and Macphail’s
Connoisseurs Choice)
www.chivas.com
http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/op_brandsConnoisseurs.html
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Caperdonich

Caperdonich distillery was originally built in
1897 as Glen Grant No.2 to serve as
a back up to the mighty Glen Grant
Distillery. However following the
Pattison's crash the distillery soon
closed as the demand for whisky
disappeared. In 1965 the distillery
reopened as Caperdonich and was
later purchased by Seagrams in 1977.
Caperdonich and Glen Grant share the
same water source but the whiskies
are not similar. Caperdonich is
lighter and tends to be smokier then
Glen Grant.
Name Meaning: Secret Source
Pronunciation: Coper Donich
Established: 1897
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 4
Tours: Not open to the public
Location: Rothes, Morayshire,
AB38 7BN
Style
Medium bodied, slightly smokey,
dried apricots
Range
None from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Gordan and Macphail’s
Connoisseurs Choice or Duncan &
talyor)
www.chivas.com
http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/op_brandsConnoisseurs.html
www.dtcscotch.com
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Cardhu

Cardhu was first licenced in 1824 by John
Cumming, the owner of Cardow farm.
The distillery was made famous by
John Cumming's daughter in-law,
Elizabeth,
who rebuilt the distillery in 1872.
This made her the first female
distiller in Scotland, and her
hospitality had a glowing
reputation. Diageo runs the
distillery currently and Cardhu has
become the spiritual home of Johnnie
Walker. The vatted/pure malt
controversy made Cardhu famous and
caused a huge labeling controversy
in the industry. Cardu draws its
water from
Mannoch Hill and Lyne Burn. A great dram for the beginner since Cardu is
on the lighter sweet side.
Name Meaning: Black Rock
Established: 1824
Pronunciation: Car Doo
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 6
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01340 872555
Location: Aberlour Banffshire, AB38
7RY
Style
Light and gentle
Range
12 year old
www.malts.com
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Craigduff

Craigduff is an experimental peaty malt
distilled at Glen Keith.
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Coleburn

A closed distillery that is typically only
available from independent bottlers.
The original distillery was founded
in 1897 and then sold in 1916 to the
Clynelish distillery. The Distillery
was closed in 1985, and its license
was cancelled in 1992 and it’s
unlikely that it will ever open
again.
Established: 1824
Pronunciation: Cole Burn
Region: Speyside
Tours: No longer in operation /
Silent still
Phone: None
Location: Longmorn by Elgin, Moray,
IV38 8GN
Style
Dry, fruity sweet
Range
None from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Gordan and Macphail’s
Connoisseurs Choice or Signatory)
http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/op_brandsConnoisseurs.html
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Convalmore

Convalmore was established 1894 and rebuilt in
1910 due to a fire. A continuous
column still was installed at this
point, with the intention of using
this still for producing malt
whisky. This turned out to be a
failure and the still was not used
after the First World War.
Modernised in 1965, the distillery
operated until its closure 20 years
later. In 1992 William Grant & Sons,
who own the neighboring Glenfiddich
and Balvenie distilleries, bought
Convalmore to use as warehousing for
their maturing whisky stocks.
Established: 1894
Pronunciation: Con Vun Loor
Region: Speyside
Tours: No longer in operation /
Silent still
Phone: None
Location: Dufftown, Banffshire, AB55
4BD
Style
Fruity, malty
Range
None from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Signatory)
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Cragganmore

Cragganmore was built in 1869 and is situated to
take advantage of the Strathspey
railway line. John Smith the
distillery founder was a great
railway enthusiast. The water used
in the making of the whisky comes
from the Craggan burn and is
relatively hard. Cragganmore grew in
popularity when it was chosen to be
one of the six 'Classic Malts' in
1988 as the Speyside representative.
This was a huge compliment given all
of the Speyside distilleries owned
by Diageo (UDV at the time).
Craggenmore is a great dram for
individuals that are just
discovering Single Malts. The
Craggnamore line offers complex,
well rounded whiskies that represent
Speyside well. It’s refreshingly
original whisky that isn’t too hyped
up with special finishes and
bottlings.
Established: 1869
Pronunciation: Cragen More
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 4
Tours: Open to the public
Phone: 01479 8747000
Location: Ballindoch, Banffshire,
AB37 9AB
Style
Dry, light, well rounded
Range
12 year old
Distillers Addition
29 year old Rare Malt
www.malts.com
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Craigellachie

Craigellachie was associated with White Horse
blend until the distillery was sold
to John Dewars and sons in 1998.
The distillery was built in 1891 and
draws its water supply from
Spring on Little Convall Hill. The distillery runs two spirit and two wash stills. The village
of Craigellachie over looks the
beautiful Thomas Telford's bridge
and is home to the world famous
Craigellachie Hotel. The hotel has
one of the largest single malt
selections in the world.
Craigellachie is becoming more
popular and was a well know brand
prior to World War I. Craigellachie
is close to the much more popular
Macallan. The distillery also
bottled a cask strength whisky for
the Craigellachie Hotel in 2003.
Craigellachie was available in
Diageo’s Flora Fauna line but now
has a new 14 year old out.
Gaelic Meaning: Rocky Hill
Established: 1891
Pronunciation: Craig ella ki
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 4
Tours: By appointment only
Phone: 01340 881212
Location:
Craigellachie, Banffshire, AB38 9ST
Style
Malty, Sweet, nuttiness
Range
14 year old
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Dallas Dhu

Dallas Dhu was closed in 1983 but can still be
found in numerous independent
bottlings. Located on the outskirts
of Forres, the Dallas Dhu distillery
has been preserved in the form of a
Historic Scotland museum and it’s
unlikely that the distillery will
ever reopen. The distillery was
built in 1898 by Alexander Edward
under the name of Dallasmore.
Established: 1898
Pronunciation: Dallas Due
Region: Speyside
Tours: Opened as a museum in 1988
Phone: 01309 676548
Location: Forres, Morayshire, IV36
2RR
Style
Smooth, delicate, honey notes
Range
None from the distillery but
available in independent bottlings
(try Gordan and Macphail’s
Connoisseurs Choice, Signatory or
the Rare Malt Collection)
http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/op_brandsConnoisseurs.html
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Dailuaine

A major contributor to the Dewar’s blends, but
don’t hold that against it (just
kidding). Daluaine is located close
to Ben Rinnes in Speyside and was
built 1865. The distillery was once
part of the Daluaine-Talisker
Distilleries Co Ltd. Daluaine
produces a great single malt
bottling under the Flora Fauna label
that’s worth seeking out. Big
sherry, balanced with light smoke. A
real winner!
Gaelic Meaning: The green vale
Established: 1865
Pronunciation: Dal yoo en
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 6
Tours: Not open to the public
Phone: 01340 872500
Location:
Carron, Banffshire, AB38 7RE
Style
Rich, fills the mouth, sherry sweet,
light smoke
Range
16 year old Flora Fuana
www.malts.com
(owned by Diageo but not included on
the malts.com website) |
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Drumguish

A new distillery that was opened in 1991 and its
too early to honestly judge how well
this dram will be. This distillery
is just finding its legs. Drumguish
also bottles under the Speyside
label.
Established: 1991
Region: Speyside
# of Stills: 2
Tours: By appointment only
Phone: 01540 661060
Location:
Tromie Mills, Glentromie, Kingussie,
PH21 1HS
Style
Oily, lightly peated, grassy
Range
Drumguish (no age statement)
Speyside 10 year old
www.speysidedistillers.co.uk
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Dufftown

Dufftown is one of six distilleries in Dufftown,
but the only one who can claim the
village’s name. Converted from a
mill 1895 Dufftown produces large
quantities of alcohol with the
majority of it going into blends. By
the 1920s the distillery had a large
following in the
US but prohibition hit Dufftown hard
and the distillery almost closed. In
1934 Arthur Bell and Sons bought the
distillery and it has been a major
contributor to the Bell’s blend ever
since. Bell’s is the largest selling
blend in the UK. Dufftown’s water
supply comes from Jock's Well which
is highly acclaimed. More than once
men from the near by Mortlach
distillery w | | |