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Distillery in Focus:          Benriach
Region: Speyside
Name: BenRiach ("Speckled Mountain"). Former names: Longmorn II, Benriach-Glenlivet.
Status: Active
Website: www.benriachdistillery.co.uk
Telephone: 01343 862888
Address: The BenRiach Distillery, Elgin, Morayshire, IV30 8SJ
E-Mail: No
Visitor centre: No.
Owner: PR Brands, Intra Trading
Established in 1898
Stills: 2 Wash and 2 Spirit stills
Percentage of single malts: ?
Casks used for maturation: Mainly bourbon casks, but also sherry and wine casks.

Contribute(d) to the following blends: Chivas Regal, 100 Pipers, Clan Murray, Glen Bervie, Queen Anne, and Something Special

Regular Bottling:

'Classic' Speyside Style:
- Heart of Speyside 40%
- 12 Years Old 43%
- 16 Years Old 43%
- 20 Years Old 43%
- 25 Years Old 50%
- 30 Years Old 50%

Peated BenRiach

- Curiositas' Peated 10 Years Old 46 % (discontinued in 2012)
- 17 YO Septendecim, OB, 46% (since 2012)
- Authenticus' Peated 21 Years Old 46%

The range is now expanded with the 'Peated Wood Finishes' and the 'Wood Finish Series', in addition to 'Limited Releases' (single cask bottlings).

For the tasted whiskies, click here

Some BenRiach 'limited releases'

History of BenRiach Distillery

Benriach was founded in 1898 by John Duff under the name Longmorn, although it was referred locally as Longmorn 2. In 1900, the distillery was registered under the name Longmorn Distillery Co. Ltd. Following the Pattison's crash in 1900, the distillery was mothballed until 1965. However BenRiach’s floor maltings remain in constant production during this period, providing malted barley for the fully operational Longmorn Distillery. The distillery was completely refurbished in 1965 under the ownership of Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd. and reopened in 1966. The name of the distillery is changed to "Benriach-Glenlivet" in 1975. Glenlivet Distillers Ltd, including BenRiach distillery, is purchased in 1978 by Seagram Ltd. In 1983, due to a shortage of Islay malt for blending, production of heavily peated barley was started. In 1985, the number of stills is increased from 2 to 4. In 1999, the distillery operated only 3 months and the floor maltings are closed. On 19th December 2001, Pernod-Ricard took over Seagram and mothballed BenRiach in August 2002. Pernod-Ricard sold BenRiach in April 2004 to PR Brand Intra trading, a consortium consisting of Billy Walker and South Africans Geoff Bell and Wayne Keiswetter. The first distillation under the new ownership started on the 20th September 2004. Since 2004, there has been a continuous production of peated malt (10%) and non-peated malt (90%). Floor maltings were put in operation again on the 5th November 2012.

 

The old maltings on the left and the new still house on the right. Inside the still house
The old maltings were in excellent condition and resumed their function in 2012 Some of the oldest cask in the warehouse

Source: Distillery visit, www.benriachdistillery.co.uk, The Scotch Whisky Book by Tom Bruce-Gardyne,The Making of Scotch whisky by John R. Hume & Michael S. Moss, and The Scotch Whisky Distilleries by Misako Udo
©P.Brossard 24 Jan 09.

 

Tasted whiskies (73):

Official/original bottlings (OB)  
Age  
BenRiach 10 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2015 Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 10 YO Curiositas, OB, 40%, B:2006 Rating: 15/20
BenRiach 12 YO, OB, 40%, B: 2006 Rating: 13/20
BenRiach Horizons Triple distilled 12 YO, OB, 50%, B: 2011 Rating: 11/20
BenRiach Madeira finish, 13 YO, OB, 47%, B: 2008, c. 3122 Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 15 YO Dark Rum, OB, 46%, B: 2006 Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 15 YO Pedro Ximenez, OB, 46%, B: 2006 Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 16 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2006 Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 16 YO Sauternes finish, OB, 46%, B: 2008 Rating: 12/20
BenRiach 17 YO Septendecim, OB, 46%, B: 2012 Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 20 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2006 Rating: 14/20
BenRiach 21 YO Authenticus, OB, B: 2006, 46%. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 25 YO, OB, 50%, B: 2009 Rating: 16/20
BenRiach Authenticus 25 YO, OB, 46%, B:2013 Rating: 12/20
   
Vintages  
BenRiach 1968 for LMDW, 36 YO, OB, 46%, c. 2711. Rating: 18/20
BenRiach 1968, OB, 46%, Cask 2708 Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1971, 40 YO, OB, 49.8%, B: 2011, c. 1947, 229 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1971 for Shinanoya, 40 YO, OB, 45.1%, B:2012, c.330, 216 b. Rating: 18/20
BenRiach 1972, OB, 45.0%, B: 2006, 562 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1975 for Asta Morris Belgium, 35 YO, OB, 51.0%, B:2011, c.7227, 236 b. Rating: 15/20
BenRiach 1975 for TWA, 34 YO, OB, 50.6%, B:2010, c. 3061, 348 b. Rating: 14/20
BenRiach 1975 for The Craigellachie Hotel, 28 YO, OB, 57.6%, B: 2005, c. 8079, 144 b. Rating: 18/20
BenRiach 1976, 29 YO, OB, 56%, B: 2006, c. 8084, 194 b. Rating: 16/20
BenRiach 1976 Tokaji finish, 29 YO, OB, 52.5%, B: 2007, c. 4416 Rating: 07/20
BenRiach 1976 for la Maison du Whisky, 30 YO, OB, B: 2006, 53% cask 3557, 222 bottles. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1976, OB, 50.5%, B: 2008, cask 2014 Rating: 18/20
BenRiach 1976 for The Whisky Fair, 33 YO, OB, 46.2%, B: 2009, c. 3550, 103 b. Rating: 18/20
BenRiach 1976 for The Whisky Fair, 33 YO, OB, 47.4%, B: 2009, c. 3558, 162 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1976 for LMDW, 33 YO, OB, 51.6%, B: 2009, c.3551 Rating: 18/20
BenRiach 1976, 34 YO, OB, 57.8%, B: 2011 c. 6942, 469 b. Rating: 16/20
BenRiach 1976 For Japan, 35 YO, OB, 44.2%, B: 2011, c. 3032, 176 b. Rating: 16/20
BenRiach 1976 Peated , 35 YO, OB, 54.9%, c. 8804, 232 b. Rating: 15/20
BenRiach 1976 Pedro Ximenez finish, 35 YO, OB, 54.1%, B: 2012, c. 5316, 204 b. Rating: 14/20
BenRiach 1976 for The Netherlands, OB, 42.6%, B: 2013, c. 3042, 42.6%, 173 b. Rating: 15/20
BenRiach 1976 for Whiskysite.nl, OB, 40.1%, B: 2013, c.3012, 118 b. Rating: 14/20
BenRiach 1976 for the Whisky Fair, 36 YO, OB, 49.3%, B: 2013, 195 b. Rating: 16/20
BenRiach 1977, 31 YO, OB, 51.5%, B: 2008, c. 7186, 212 b. Rating: 15/20
BenRiach 1977 Pedro Ximinez sherry finish, 34 YO, OB, 54.3%, B:2011, c. 1034, 311 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1978 Moscatel finish , 29 YO, OB, 52.2%, B: 2007, c. 4413 Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 1978 Moscatel finish, 30 YO, OB, 50.7%, B: 2008, c. 4412 Rating: 11/20
BenRiach 1979 for Shinanoya, 32 YO, OB, 44.9%, B:2012, c. 737, 139 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1984 Port finish, 22 YO, OB, 54.5%, B: 2007, c. 4049, 288 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1984 Richly Peated Port Finish, 22 YO, OB, 54.2%, B: 2007, c. 4049, 264 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1986 Fino, 19 YO, OB, 55%, B: 2006, cask 9362 Rating: 17/20
Benriach 1988 sherry finish, 16 YO, OB, 54.7%, B :2005, cask 802, 675 b. Rating: 12/20
BenRiach 1990 Tawny Port Finish, 22 YO, OB, 53.4%, B: 2012, c.2596, 624 b. Rating: 15/20
BenRiach 1994 For Lateltin Switzerland, OB, 52.9%, B: 2015, c. 41165, 218 b. Rating: 12/20
BenRiach 1994 Peated for the Whisky Fair, 19 YO, OB, 53.1%, B: 2014, c.1616, 257 b. Rating: 16/20
BenRiach 1995 Pedrox Ximinez, OB, 58.3%, B:2011, c. 7164, 695 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1995 Single Cask for Switzerland, 17 YO, OB, 56.7%, B: 2012, c.1768, 160 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1996 Single Cask for Switzerland PX finish, 16 YO, OB, 53.1%, B: 2012, c.5613, 293 b. Rating: 14/20
BenRiach 1996 Virgin Oak for Best Taste Trading, 17 YO, OB, 55.1%, B: 2013, c.7966, 361 b. Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 1996 Pedro Ximinez for Best Taste Trading, 17 YO, OB, 53.2%, B: 2013, c. 5615, 308 b. Rating: 15/20
BenRiach 1996 Pedro Ximinez for Best Taste Trading, OB, 53.4%, B:2013, cask 5609, 282 b. Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 1996 Pedro Ximinez Sherry Finish for UK, 18 YO, OB, 54.4%, B: 2014, cask 3607, 668 bottles Rating: 16/20
BenRiach 1998 Triple Distilled/Pedro Ximinez Sherry Finish, OB, 56.1%, B: 2013, c. 7633, 630 b. Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 1998 Triple Distilled Pedro Ximenez sherry finish for The Whisky Exchange, 17 YO, OB, 48.9%, c. 7758 Rating: 16/20
BenRiach 1999 Virgin Oak, 13 YO, OB,  46% , B: 2014 Rating: 13/20
BenRiach 2005 Peated Virgin Oak Cask Finish, 9 YO, OB, 58.7%, B:2014, c.3781, 294 b. Rating: 16/20
   
No Age Specified (NAS)  

 

Independent bottlings (IB)  
   
Adelphi  
BenRiach 1977, 34 YO, Adelphi, 48.6%, B: 2011, 217 bottles Rating: 15/20
   
Cadenhead's  
Benriach 1978, 17 YO, Cadenhead, 59.7%, B: 1995 Rating: 15/20
   
Duncan Taylor  
BenRiach 1968, Duncan Taylor, 48.0%, B: 2003. cask 2592 Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1968, 37 YO, Duncan Taylor, 48.6%, cask 2597 Rating: 18/20
   
First Editions, The  
Benriach 1989, 26 YO, The First Editions, 56.1%, B:2016, c. 12002, 268 b. Rating: 14/20
   
Gordon & MacPhail  
BenRiach 1966, 44 YO, G&M, 56.1%, B: 2010, c. 605, 129 b. Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1969 Connoisseur Choice, G&M, 40%. B: c1980s Rating: 17/20
   
Executive Malts  
BenRiach 1987 European Oak finish, 19 YO, Exclusive Malts, 51.3%, B: 2007, c. 14388 Rating: 17/20
   
Hart Brothers  
BenRiach 1968 sherrywood, 34 YO, Hart Brothers, 49.8% Rating: 18/20
   
Signatory  
BenRiach 1966, 35 YO, Signatory, B: 2001, 47.2%, c 1021, 309 b. Rating: 18/20
BenRiach 1976, 29 YO, Signatory, 54.6%,  c.9441 Rating: 17/20
BenRiach 1985, 23 YO, 49.0%, Signatory, B: 2009, c. 5501 Rating: 14/20
BenRiach 1994 Sauternes Finish, 12 YO, Signatory, 58.9%. B: 2006 Rating: 15/20
   
Single Malts of Scotland  
BenRiach 1984 (Sherry), 21 YO, SMOS, 56.7% c. 490/514 Rating: 17/20
   
   
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