Benromach Story
Located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres in Speyside is Scotland’s best-kept secret. From a small and almost lost distillery emerged a single malt with distinctive qualities reflecting its exclusive hand made credentials as well as encapsulating the self-reliance, sophistication and modern values of Scotland today.
Just two experienced distillers create Benromach using the finest Scottish barley and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. They personally ensure that only the highest quality spirit is filled into sturdy oak casks before being left to mature at Benromach Distillery for many years.
At Benromach we passionately craft high quality single malt whisky with minimal impact on the environment.
Golden in colour, with a unique warm mellow character – the secret of Benromach is too good to be kept. Stylish and sophisticated, Benromach is a drink to share special moments with special people.
History
1898 - Benromach Distillery established. Duncan MacCallum, of Glen Nevis Distillery, Campbeltown, and FW Brickmann, spirit broker, of Leith, founded the Benromach Distillery Company in 1898.
Alexander Edward, a leading promoter of distillery enterprises of Sanquhar, Forres, granted them a feu charter for a plot of his land north of the railway junction at Forres.
The company appointed Charles Doig, an eminent distillery engineer from Elgin, as their architect.
Travellers on the Inverness to Aberdeen railway line noted in November 1898 that work was taking place on the roof and in December 1898, Doig told a local journalist that the building was nearing completion.
1899 - The Pattison's crash. Pattison's of Leith - one of the largest buyers of malt fillings - went dramatically brankrupt and a massive depression hit the Scotch whisky industry.
1899 - Difficulties for the Benromach owners. Brickmann's firm was suspended in October 1899 with liabilities exceeding £70,000, and MacCallum experienced great difficulties in finding buyers for his product.
The distillery was due to start production in spring 1899, but was inactive until May 1900 when it was reported to be conducting trials.
1900 - 1909 - Benromach silent. The brand new state-of-the-art distillery remained silent until 1909
1911 - New owners for Benromach. Benromach is acquired by Harvey McNair & Co of London in 1911, who announced they intended to recommence distilling in the spring of 1912. The distillery remained in production up to the beginning of the First World War in 1914.
1914 - 1918 - Benromach silent
1919 - Benromach changes hands. After the war, Benromach was bought by John Joseph Calder, who promptly sold it to the Benromach Distillery Ltd, a private company registered in late 1919 in Edinburgh. Several breweries held shares in the new company.
1925 -1937 - Benromach silent. Benromach was working in 1925 but at some point it fell silent until it was bought again in 1937.
1938 - Benromach changes hands. The distillery was transferred in 1938 to Associated Scottish Distilleries Ltd (ASD). ASD was bought by National Distillers, an American corporation.
1953 - Benromach changes hands. National Distillers sells Benromach to The Distillers Company Limited of Edinburgh. Benromach was then transferred to Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd (SMD). SMD at that time noted that Benromach had excellent gardens, which have been kept in good order.
1966 - 1974 - Investment at Benromach. Benromach's still house was rebuilt and an oil-fired boiler was installed. Two years later the maltings was converted to a cask store, and in 1974 the mash house was rebuilt and the tunroom was modernised.
1983 - Benromach officially closes. March 24th saw the last filling under the ownership of United Distillers. The workers on that day who witnessed that last filling signed their names on the filling store wall.
1993 - Benromach Distillery purchased by Gordon & MacPhail
1993 - 1998 - Major investment in Benromach. After many years of planning, the refurbishment of Benromach Distillery began with a major over-haul to re-equip the distillery with specially designed and commissioned new stills, a mash tun, remoulded wash backs.
1998 - Production recommences at Benromach. The two new stills were finally installed along with all the production equipment. Production restarted at Benromach nearly 100 years after the first distillation.
On October 15th, HRH Prince of Wales officially reopened the distillery at a grand opening ceremony, which attracted visitors and guests from all over the world. His Highness was offered a tasting of a special centenary bottling of Benromach.
This limited edition bottling, limited to 3,500 bottles worldwide, was also a great opportunity to present HRH The Prince of Wales with a bottle to celebrate his 50th birthday (appropriately numbered 50). His Highness also signed the first cask stored in the main warehouse, where visitors to Benromach can see it even today.
1999 - Benromach Visitor Centre and Malt Whisky Centre opens. On August 2nd, the Malt Whisky Centre opened at Benromach, providing visitors around the world with an opportunity to explore the distillery and discover the secret of Benromach.
2000 - Four Stars awarded to Benromach. The Malt Whisky Centre was awarded a four-star visitor attraction grading from the Scottish Tourist Board. The Distillery also joined the world famous Malt Whisky Trail.
2004 - Benromach Traditional launched. Benromach Traditional, the first product distilled at Benromach Distillery under Gordon & MacPhail's ownership, is launched.
2006 - Benromach Organic launched. The first bottled single malt to be fully certified by the Soil Association is launched.
2007 - New cask warehouse constructed. Warehouse No. 4 is constructed at Benromach Distillery in the traditional dunnage style using modern materials.
2009 - Benromach Visitor Centre and Malt Whisky Centre Refurbished. 10 years after the Malt Whisky Centre was opened it has been refurbished to give it a modern contemporary look.
2009 - Benromach 10 Years Old Launched. The first aged product to be produced since the distillery was reopened in 1998.