Visiting Benromach: Handcrafted Speyside Whisky
A visit to Benromach in Forres, one of the smallest distilleries in Speyside, revived by the long-established bottler Gordon & MacPhail, crafting a classic Speyside style with a hint of smoke entirely by hand.
On the edge of the Speyside town of Forres sits a distillery that simply does not fit the image of the big, gleaming Speyside corporations: Benromach. Small, handmade and with an eventful history, it is the counter-design to its enormous neighbour Glenfiddich, and that is exactly what makes the visit so appealing. Even the modest red-and-white building with its distinctive lettering reveals it: this is whisky made on a small scale and with plenty of handwork.
From decline to rebirth
Benromach was founded in 1898 by Duncan McCallum and F. W. Brickman, at a time when new distilleries were springing up all over Speyside. Its history was chequered, and in 1983, in the midst of the great crisis of the whisky industry, Benromach was shut down. The plant fell silent and the future was uncertain.
Rescue came from Elgin: in 1993, the renowned independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail bought the distillery, lovingly restored it over several years and resumed production in 1998. The revived Benromach was opened by Prince Charles in person. For Gordon & MacPhail, known for generations primarily as cask merchants and bottlers, it was the fulfilment of a long-held dream: a distillery of their own.
Handcraft on the smallest scale
Benromach is one of the smallest distilleries in Speyside. Distillation takes place on just two stills, looked after by a tiny team. There is no computer-controlled mass production here, but whisky-making by hand, as was customary before the 1960s. It was precisely this old Speyside style that Gordon & MacPhail deliberately set out to revive.
The result is a single malt that clearly stands apart from today's often smooth, purely fruity Speyside: full-bodied, spicy and with a fine hint of smoke that recalls the days when Speyside whiskies, too, were lightly peated. The soft spring water comes from the Chapelton Springs in the nearby Romach Hills. The Benromach 10 Years shows the heart of the house, while the Contrasts range explores the spectrum, such as the Benromach 9 Years Contrasts: Unpeated.
Visitor tips
Benromach sits in Forres, at the western end of Speyside and on the edge of the Malt Whisky Trail. Anyone visiting the mighty Glenfiddich in Dufftown should not miss the contrast with this small craft distillery. The visitor centre is personal and unhurried, and the tours lead right through the compact production, you can hardly get closer to whisky-making.
Slàinte mhath from Forres!
Want more from this distillery? You can find all the Benromach whiskies we have reviewed gathered in our overview of all Benromach bottlings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Benromach distillery located?
Benromach is located on the edge of the town of Forres in Moray, at the western end of the Speyside region. The address is Benromach Distillery, Invererne Road, Forres IV36 3EB. The distillery is part of the Malt Whisky Trail.
Who owns Benromach?
Benromach is owned by the long-established independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin. The family company bought the closed distillery in 1993, restored it and resumed production in 1998.
When was Benromach founded and reopened?
Benromach was founded in 1898 and shut down in 1983 during the whisky crisis. After being bought by Gordon & MacPhail, the distillery was reopened by Prince Charles in 1998.
What makes the style of Benromach special?
Benromach is made on the smallest scale, on just two stills and entirely by hand. The single malt stands for a classic, full-bodied Speyside style with a fine hint of smoke, as was typical before the 1960s.
Can you visit the Benromach distillery?
Yes, Benromach has a personal visitor centre and offers tours through the compact production followed by a tasting. Precisely because of its small size, you get especially close to the whisky-making here.