Balmenach

Region: Speyside (Grantown on Spey)

Owner: Inverhouse Distillers

Founded: 1824

The majority of the whisky drinking public have probably never heard of the Balmenach distillery. Although it is a fairly large distillery in terms of output (over 2 million litres of spirit a year) and it is the largest distillery in the Inverhouse Disitllers portfolio, it does not release any bottlings under its own label, which is why it remains the least known of their five distilleries.

It would appear that it has two claims to fame. The first is that it was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to introduce the Saladin Box for grain malting. This device, which was invented by a French Lt, Colonel called Charles Saladin in the late 1800’s and it is essentially a concrete trough with a perforated floor and a bank of giant Archimedes screws to turn the germinating grain. This is obviously far more efficient than a man with a shovel or a rake. Due to the rise in commercial malting, the Saladin Box has pretty much completely disappeared from distilleries now and Balmenach stopped using theirs in the mid 1980’s. Its second claim to fame is that it is home to the Caorunn Gin, which at the time of writing is the third most sold premium gin in the UK.

But, what about the whisky? Well, to be honest, it’s really hard to pin down its style. The stills are relatively small and run quickly, also being coupled with worm tub condensers, the distillery is set up to create a very meaty, sulphury new make spirit which needs time in the cask to remove those elements. Thus, at its best, the distilleries style can be described as a fairly robust and honeyed Speyside whisky.

(Image Copyright James Mortimer Photography)