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BALBLAIR

10 years old

40 %
Proprietors: Balblair Distillery Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

BALBLAIR

27 years old

40 %
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
CONNOISSEURS CHOICE
Distilled 1964
Bottled 1991
Proprietors: Balblair Distillery Co, Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

BALBLAIR

12 years old

45,7 %
Distilled June 1965
LAST BOTTLE AND EMPTY
Bottled September 1977
Proprietors: Balblair Distillery Co, Ltd
William Cadenhead,
18 Golden Square, Aberdeen

BALBLAIR

10 years old

40%
Proprietors:
Balblair Distillery Company Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

BALBLAIR

35 years old

40 %
Distilled 1964
Bottled 1999
Proprietors:
Balblair Distillery Company Ltd
Gordon & Macphail, Elgin

BALBLAIR

geen leeftijd vermelding

40%

INFO
A CREATION OF THE ELEMENTS
A Spirit of the Air
Distilled Where the Air is said
to be The Purest in Scotland
Inver House Distillers Ltd

BALBLAIR

16 years old

40 %
A SPIRIT OF THE AIR
Inver House Distillers Ltd

BALBLAIR

33 years old

45,4%
A SPIRIT OF THE AIR
Bottled 2000
Limited Edition
Genummerde flessen
Inver House Distillers Ltd

BALBLAIR

10 years old

40 %
A SPIRIT OF THE AIR
Bottled: 2002
Inver House Distillers Ltd

BALBLAIR

Aged 12 years

61 %

INFO
A SPIRIT OF THE AIR
SINGLE PEATY CASK
Distilled 1992
Cask no: 3026
Hand Selected
Peaty Cask CASK STRENGHT
Balblair Distillery, Edderton, Ross-shire

BALBLAIR

Aged 26 years

46 %

INFO
A SPIRIT OF THE AIR
SPECIALIST BOTTLING
Distilled 1979
Bottled August 2005
BOURBON CASK
Non Chill-Filtered
Blablair Distillery, Edderton, Ross-shire

BALBLAIR

VINTAGE 1997

43 %
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Established in 1790
Distilled in 1997
Bottled 2007
Balblair Distillery, Edderton

BALBLAIR

VINTAGE 1989

43 %
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Established in 1790
Bottled 2007
Natural Colour
Balblair Distillery, Edderton

BALBLAIR

VINTAGE 1979

46 %
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Established in 1790
Distilled 1979
Bottled 2007
Natural Colour
Unchill Filtered
Balblair Distillery, Edderton

BALBLAIR

VINTAGE 1 9 9 1

43 %

INFO
Established 1790
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Aged 18 years
Distilled: 1991
Bottled 2009
Natural Colour
Balblair Distillery, Edderton, Tain, Ross - shire

BALBLAIR

VINTAGE 1 9 9 2

46 %

INFO
A SPIRIT OF THE AIR
Aged 13 years
Distilled 28th October 1992
Hand Selected
Limited Edition
One of 884 Bottles from
Three Bourbon Casks
Bottled September 2006
Balblair Distillery, Edderton, Tain, Ross - shire

BALBLAIR

VINTAGE 2 0 0 1

46 %
1 st RELEASE
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 2001
Bottled 2012
Natural colour
Non Chill - filtered
Balblair Distillery, Edderton

BALBLAIR

INFO
VINTAGE 2 0 0 2

46 %
1 st RELEASE
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 2002
Bottled 2012
Natural colour
Non Chill - filtered
Balblair Distillery, Edderton

BALBLAIR

46 %

INFO
VINTAGE 1 9 9 5
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled 1995
Bottled 2012
Natural Colour
Unchill Filtered
Balblair Distillery, Edderton

BALBLAIR

INFO
Aged 9 years

58 %
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
FROM A SINGLE CASK
Date distilled: 12th May 2005
Cask type: Refill Barrel / ex Bourbon
Society Single Cask: 70.9
Outturn : One of only 231 Bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
Know your grape

The Northern Highlands
BALBLAIR (1790 - 1911) (1949 - 1996) (1996 -

Edderton, Ross-shire. Licentiehouder: Balblair Distillery Ltd. Balblair is onderdeel van sw Caledonian Malt Distillers Ltd. De Malt divisie van Allied Distillers Ltd. Onderdeel de Hiram Walker Group Ltd, de wijn- en gedistilleerd divisie van Allied Lyons Pic.
Gesticht in 1790, hoewel sommige bronnen ook het jaar 1749 als stichtingsjaar aangeven, maar dit slaat waarschijnlijk op een distilleerderij, ook met de naam Balblair die was gelegen op Black Isle, een paar kilometer zuidelijker.
Balblair betekent slagveld, waarschijnlijk uit de tijd stammend dat de Vikingen dit deel van Schotland binnenvielen.
Edderton staat bekend als de 'Parish of Peat'.
Balblair werd gesticht door John Ross en de distilleerderij bleef het eigendom van de familie tot 1894, toen Alexander Cowan, een wijnhandelaar te Inverness eigenaar werd.
Cowan verplaatste Balblair naar een hoger gelegen plaats, de lagerpakhuizen bleven op de oude, iets lager gelegen plek staan.
De lagerpakhuizen hebben een aarden vloer, uitgezonderd lagerpakhuis No. 3, die een be-tonnen vloer heeft, achtergelaten door het leger, dat hier was gehuisvest in de tweede wereldoorlog.
Balblair was gesloten van 1915 - 1947.
In 1947 kocht Robert Cumming Balblair, hij was ook al de eigenaar van (Old) Pulteney.
Hij breidde de distilleerderij uit en moderniseerde Balblair.
Wegens gebrek aan bestellingen verkocht Cumming de distilleerderij aan Hiram Walker.
De mouterij werd gesloten in 1975.
In Februari 1996 doet Allied Domecq de distilleerderij in de 'mottenballen'.
In datzelfde jaar koopt Inver House Balblair.
Het water komt van de Allt Dearg Burn.
De Mash tun is 4 ton.
De zes Wash backs zijn elk 21000 liter.
Er staat één Wash still van 12000 liter en twee Spirit stills van elk 8500 liter, die met stoom worden verhit.
De capaciteit is 750.000 liter spirit per jaar.
In 1995 koopt Inver House Balblair en (Old) Pulteney van Allied Domecq. De distilleerderij kat heet Whisky (2003).
September 2007
Werd tot nu toe Balblair uitgebracht als Elements, zonder leeftijd, 10-, 16-, en Limited Editions whiskies, worden de whiskies nu uitgebracht als Vintages.
De nieuwe flessen zijn bolvormig met een verwijzing naar de opmerkelijke stills. Op fles en etiket de kerven van de unieke Pictische standing stone nabij Balblair.
Manager is (2007) John MacDonald, Master Distiller is Stuart Harvey.
Produktie nu: 1,5 miljoen liter spirit per jaar.

Current Annual Distillery Output: 1.27 litres of alcohol
Cask storage: 26.000 casks in traditional Dunnage warehouses

Water source:Allt Dearg Burn in the Struie Hills
Malt Source: Muir of Ord Maltings
Malt Storage:300 T
Mill Type: Porteus
Grist Storage:4,6 T x 2
Mash Tun Conxtruction:Traditional rakes, Steel
Mash Size:4,6 T
No. of Wash Backs:6
Wash Back Construction:Oregon Pine
Wash Back Capacity:30.000
Yeast:Maori
No. of Wash Stills:1
Wash Still Charge:19.600 litres
Heat Source:Steam Pans
Wash Still Shape:Traditional
No. of Spirit Stills:
Spirit Still Charges:11.800 litres
Heat Source: Steam Pans
Spirit Still Shape:Traditional

1790   John Ross sticht Balblair
1824   Andrew Ross, zoon van, neemt Balblair over, vertrekt na een paar jaar
naar Brora, en John Ross neemt Balblair wer over
1836   John Ross sterft en Andrew Ross, geholpen door zijn zoons neemt de dis-
tilleerderij over
1872   Een nieuwe distilleerderij wordt gebouwd, de oude wordt gebruikt als

lagerpakhuis
1873 Andrew Ross sterft en zijn zoon James neemt de distilleerderij over
1894 James Ross start een nieuwe distilleerderij
Balnagowan Estate sluit een nieuw contract met Alexander Cowan voor de

tijd van zestig jaar.
Er wordt bepaald in het pachtcontract dat er een nieuwe distilleerderij
gebouwd moet worden, ter vervanging van de bestaande.
De nieuwe Balblair wordt een paar kilometer van de oude gebouwd, vlak-
bij een spoorlijn
1911   Alexander Cowan stopt met beatlen en de distilleerderij sluit
Medewerkers verkopen in de volgende 20 jaar de voorraden, dit houdt op
in 1932
Gedurende deze jaren is er geen produktie
1941   Balnagowan Estate gaat bankroet en Balblair staat te koop
1948   Robert Cumming, advokaat te Keith koopt de distilleerderij voor £ 48.000
1949   Balblair wordt weer opgestart
1970   Robert Cumming verkoopt Balblair aan Hiram Walker
Er wordt een derde ketel geïnstalleerd
1988   Door de overname van Allied Distillers van Hiram Walker, komt Allied Dis-
tillers in het bezit van Balblair
1996   Allied Domecq doet Balblair in de motteballen, maar hetzelfde jaar wordt
Inver House de nieuwe eigenaar.
2001   Great Oriole Group neemt Inver House over
2004…Balblair 38 years is launched
2005…Balblair 12 years Peaty cask is launched
         Balblair 26 years 1979 is launched
         Balblair 35 years 1970 is launched
2006…International Beverage Holdings acquires Pacific Spirits U K
2007…3 new Vintages replaces the entire former range
         1979, 1989, 1997
2008 Vintages 1975 and 1965 are launched
2009 Vintages 1991 and 1990 are launched
2010 Vintages 1978 and 2000 are launched

Ontstaan door een management - buy - out, onder leiding van Bill Robertson en Angus Graham, die £ 8,2 miljoen investeerden.
November 2001 werd Inver House voor £ 56 miljoen gekocht door Pacific Spirits, onderdeel van de op de Virgin Islands gevestigde Great Oriole Group van de Thaise zakenman Charoen Sirivadhanabakdi.
Manager van Pacific Spirits is Ooi Boon Aun.
Robertson en Graham ontvangen samen £ 37 miljoen en ook de 130 medewerkers ontvangen geld, sommigen £ 50.000.
Inbegrepen in de koop zijn de vijf distilleerderijen Knockdhu, Speyburn, (Old) Pulteney Balblair en Balmenach.

We, the most distant dwellersupon the earth, the last of the free, have been shielded…by our
Remoteness and by the obscurity which has shrouded our name… Beyond us lies no nation,
nothing but waves and rocks.
Pictish Chief Calgacus, recorded by the Roman enemy in the words of Tacitus almost 2.000
years ago.

Within sight of the Balblair Distillery, on the ancient plain of Eadar Dun, lies a great stone
monument: erected over four millennia ago by a race now lost to history. This symbol stone
has endured both time and season, and is testament to the people who raised it against the
brooding backdrop of the Ardross Hills

There arose a new nation, the Picts, who for a period took their place in the annals of Scottish
history and imbued the stone with their myth and legend. With singular talent and passion they
carved their sacred symbols, the salmon, a magical creature with the ability to pass safely
between fresh water, sea and air, and the double disc. Representing this world by day and the
other world by night, the sun´s two faces, benign in summer, malevolent in winter

It is this sacred stone, the ´Clach Biorach´, meaning sharp stone, which has inspired Balblair
The Pictish symbols and ancient legends, ageless in a time of change, are part of the very
essence of Balblair where the stone stands alone over the distillery, silent and elusive, as
it has done all these ages past.

Balblair Distillery, located in the Northern Highlands of Scotland was founded by John Ross
in 1790 on the shores of the Dornoch Firth in the village of Edderton.

This village takes its name from the ancient settlement of Eadar Dun, meaning ´between the
forts´. It is on the very hills where these `forts´reside that the pure water of the Ault Dearg burn
runs freely, supplying the distillery with the same rich source for over 200 years.

18 january 2010

The home of Balblair malt whisky at Edderton, near Tain has hosted its first wedding

Lynne Keating and Gregor Black, both police officers from East Lothian, thought
The picturesque Easter Ross distillery would be a "dram"fine place to tie the knot
after friends who own the nearby Carnegie Lodge Hotel recommended it

The couple visited, met distillery manager vJohn MacDonald and were so impressed by the beautiful location that they booked it for the big day

"There's something quite special about a perfectly matured Highland single malt whisky
about the essence of a VINTAGE year, captured in a bottle. About tasting it. Feeling it ".

John McDonald, Distillery Manager

BALBLAIR REMOVES VINTAGES AMIDST REVAMP

March 2019

Balblair distillery is shaking up its range of single malt whiskies by replacing their iconic vintages with age statements.

Balblair’s new range has been redesigned with age statements instead of vintages

The Highland distillery will introduce four new expressions, aged between 12 and 25 years, in a move its owner Inver House Distillers describes as signalling ‘a new era for Balblair’.

The new collection will launch in the UK this month, and roll out globally from April 2019.

Balblair has become known for its annual vintage releases, each containing whisky distilled and laid down within one single year.

While the new range is designed to ‘reinvigorate’ Balblair, brand manager Matthew Jamieson said the whisky ‘isn’t changing’.

‘Balblair will always be a single malt Scotch whisky of premium quality, with a true Highland strength of character,’ he said.

‘We’re immensely proud of our new collection and confident that the flavour profiles, along with super-premium packaging, will reinvigorate Balblair and excite consumers.’

The new whiskies, all of which have been bottled at 46% abv, include:

Balblair 12 Year Old (£45), which is matured in ex-Bourbon casks and double-fired American oak casks, with notes of ‘dried orange, ground spices and sweet vanilla’.

Balblair 15 Year Old (£75), which has been initially matured in ex-Bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak Sherry butts, and has notes of ‘dark chocolate, tropical fruit and creamy vanilla’.

Balblair 18 Year Old (£120), has also been matured initially in ex-Bourbon casks, followed by first-fill Spanish oak Sherry butts, but is said to have notes of ‘juicy apricots, vanilla custard and raisins’.

Balblair 25 Year Old (£500), has been matured initially in ex-Bourbon casks then finished in ex-oloroso Sherry casks. It’s said to have notes of ‘oily citrus, chocolate praline, fresh tobacco leaf and blood oranges’.

Balblair has claimed to be leaning on its heritage with its shift to age statements

John MacDonald, Balblair distillery manager, said: ‘As one of the oldest working distilleries in the Scottish Highlands, Balblair has a long and rich history of crafting premium single malt Scotch whisky.

‘Our new collection is intrinsically linked to our heritage and is testament to the place and the people behind our whisky, while being emblematic of our “True Highland Spirit”.’

The range comes in new packaging which retains Balblair’s signature bottle shape and features a new brand logo inspired by the nearby Struie Hill.

Balblair will continue to release vintage expressions on a limited basis.

The removal of Balblair’s vintages follows a similar move by Speyside distillery Glenrothes in September 2018.

At the time, a spokesperson for Glenrothes said: ‘Premium drinkers are more confident when choosing a whisky with an age statement, as it acts as an important cue in navigating the range.

‘What’s more, to them, the age statement is indicative of a whisky with better taste and a higher quality.’

A WHISKY HISTORY OF EASTER ROSS

The roots of whisky go deep in Easter Ross, home of fabled Ferintosh and now the location of a diverse collection of distilleries, including Glenmorangie, Dalmore and Balblair. Iain Russell outlines the region’s chequered whisky history.

Once upon a time, long before people talked of Speyside and the other famous whisky regions, there was Ferintosh.

During the 1700s, Ferintosh became the popular generic name for good Highland whisky, much as Glenlivet was to become a century later. The name disappeared from the whisky market long ago; nevertheless, the legacy of Ferintosh was to have a profound influence on the social and economic history of Easter Ross, the broad and fertile coastal plain which includes the famous Black Isle peninsula and lies to the north of Inverness. And Easter Ross remains one of the most diverse, if under-appreciated, whisky-producing regions of Scotland today.

In the 18th century, it was said that more whisky was made in the 16 distilleries on the Ferintosh Estate, near Dingwall, than in the whole of the rest of Scotland. Such was its mythical status that the 17th-century traveller Martin Martin reported:

‘The children of Ferintosh… are taught in their infancy to drink aquavitae and are never observed to be troubled with worms.’

Its praises were sung by some of the most influential figures in 18th-century Scottish culture, including Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.

The lands of Ferintosh had been virtually exempted from excise duty in 1690, as compensation to the local laird for damages done to the estate by Jacobite soldiers during the so-called ‘Glorious Revolution’.

The advent of rail helped distilleries such as Glenmorangie to prosper

The exemption encouraged the development of a thriving distilling industry, and the historian Ian Mowat estimated that about 1,000 people were employed in distilling there at its peak.

The ending of the privilege in 1784 did not put a stop to whisky making – it simply encouraged distillers to continue making ‘Ferintosh’ elsewhere in the region, either with or (more usually) without an excise licence.

The growth of the illicit whisky industry in the early 19th century had serious social consequences for Easter Ross. It created a climate of lawlessness in which a large part of the population became involved in the manufacture or sale of illicit spirits.

Excise raids uncovered unlicensed stills and casks of illicit whisky hidden under beds, in middens and in privies in houses all across the region. Local newspapers regularly carried stories of violent confrontations between excisemen and whisky ‘free traders’, in towns as well as in the countryside.

Meanwhile, local landowners, including the Sheriff of Ross-shire himself, were accused of failing to punish unlicensed distillers and dealers (who were often their tenants or their customers) when they appeared in the local courts.

It was that said that more offenders were prosecuted in Dingwall than anywhere else in Scotland – and the town became home to ‘swarms of lawyers’, attracted by the plentiful demand for their services.

Those not involved in the illegal manufacture of whisky were very often engaged in its sale and consumption, and local newspapers carried startling tales of drunkenness and depravity.

Captain Hugh Munro, owner of Teaninich distillery, complained that even the public houses in Dingwall and Tain, the largest towns in the area, sold only smuggled whisky to their customers.

Illicit whisky makers easily undercut the prices of the dozens of new licensed distillers, driving the latter out of business to the extent that only two – Balblair (founded in 1790) and Teaninich (1821) – remained active by the end of the 1820s.

It took until the 1830s for the excise authorities to stamp out illicit distilling in all but the more remote parts of Easter Ross, and for entrepreneurs to invest once more in licensed distilleries. Glen Ord was founded in 1838 and Dalmore the following year – both by landowners seeking to develop the demand for their tenants’ barley.

Glenmorangie was established at Morangie Farm in 1843 by William Matheson, an experienced distiller who had learned his trade at Balblair and knew how profitable it could be to combine farming and distilling.

Initially, the licensed distillers sold their spirits primarily to local customers. In 1864, however, the forerunner of the Highland Railway connected all the distilleries in the area to Inverness and the south. Highland whisky from Easter Ross soon found its way to all parts of the UK, and was shipped to customers overseas in the US, Australia and New Zealand.

The opening of new markets led to a boom in the industry in Easter Ross in the late 19th century. Balblair was rebuilt in 1872; Dalmore doubled in size in 1874 and was extended again in 1894; Glenmorangie was rebuilt in 1887; and Glen Ord was rebuilt by new owners after 1896 to four times the size of the original.

A new distillery, Ben Wyvis (subsequently renamed Ferintosh) was founded near Dingwall in 1879, and Glenskiach, at Evanton, in 1896.

But the good times did not last

…

The Easter Ross distilleries suffered years of hardship in the first half of the 20th century, during two World Wars and one of the deepest worldwide recessions in history.

All were mothballed for various periods, but only Ferintosh and Glenskiach failed to reopen. The others recovered with the blended Scotch whisky boom that followed the Second World War, and with the growing interest in single malts from the 1970s.

A different kind of whisky distilling came to Easter Ross in the early 1960s, with the opening of a new grain distillery – the first in the Highlands, and the largest in Europe.

Invergordon distillery was conceived as a bold initiative to help alleviate unemployment in the town and to support the ailing farming industry of the eastern Highlands. Invergordon (which briefly included a single malt distillery, Ben Wyvis) grew rapidly to employ, at its peak, 400 men and women.

GlenWyvis is reviving the regional tradition of small-scale whisky making

The success of Invergordon encouraged the location of other industries in the area, permitting much-needed diversification in the local economy. It also provided further demand for high-quality malting barley, encouraging farmers to specialise in the crop.

Two farmer-owned co-operatives were set up – The Black Isle Grain Group, in 1977, and Easter Ross Grain, in 1988 – to develop local resources and expertise. They amalgamated in the 1990s to create Highland Grain Ltd, which has established Easter Ross’ reputation as a centre of excellence in the production and supply of this vital whisky ingredient.

Today, the industry in Easter Ross continues to grow and develop. There have been major expansion projects in recent years at Glen Ord, Teaninich and Glenmorangie. At Invergordon, owner Whyte & Mackay has announced an ambitious modernisation programme, albeit including a number of redundancies.

Meanwhile, there are signs of a revival of the ‘Ferintosh’ tradition of small-scale whisky production: Heather Nelson is building the Toulvaddie Distillery at Fearn, near Nigg, and the crowdfunded and energy self-sufficient GlenWyvis, near Dingwall, opened in 2017 and promises to become one of the leading and most innovative lights in the new wave of Scottish ‘craft’ distilleries

Edderton, Ross-shire. Licentiehouder: Balblair Distillery Ltd. Balblair is onderdeel van sw Caledonian Malt Distillers Ltd. De Malt divisie van Allied Distillers Ltd. Onderdeel de Hiram Walker Group Ltd, de wijn- en gedistilleerd divisie van Allied Lyons Pic.

Gesticht in 1790, hoewel sommige bronnen ook het jaar 1749 als stichtingsjaar aangeven, maar dit slaat waarschijnlijk op een distilleerderij, ook met de naam Balblair die was gelegen op Black Isle, een paar kilometer zuidelijker.

Balblair betekent slagveld, waarschijnlijk uit de tijd stammend dat de Vikingen dit deel van Schotland binnenvielen.

Edderton staat bekend als de 'Parish of Peat'.

Balblair werd gesticht door John Ross en de distilleerderij bleef het eigendom van de familie tot 1894, toen Alexander Cowan, een wijnhandelaar te Inverness eigenaar werd.

Cowan verplaatste Balblair naar een hoger gelegen plaats, de lagerpakhuizen bleven op de oude, iets lager gelegen plek staan.

De lagerpakhuizen hebben een aarden vloer, uitgezonderd lagerpakhuis No. 3, die een be-tonnen vloer heeft, achtergelaten door het leger, dat hier was gehuisvest in de tweede wereldoorlog.

Balblair was gesloten van 1915 - 1947.

In 1947 kocht Robert Cumming Balblair, hij was ook al de eigenaar van (Old) Pulteney.

Hij breidde de distilleerderij uit en moderniseerde Balblair.

Wegens gebrek aan bestellingen verkocht Cumming de distilleerderij aan Hiram Walker.

De mouterij werd gesloten in 1975.

In Februari 1996 doet Allied Domecq de distilleerderij in de 'mottenballen'.

In datzelfde jaar koopt Inver House Balblair.

Het water komt van de Allt Dearg Burn.

De Mash 4 ton. tun is

De zes Wash backs zijn elk 21000 liter.

Er staat één Wash still van 12000 liter en twee Spirit stills van elk 8500 liter, die met stoom worden verhit.

De capaciteit is 750.000 liter spirit per jaar.

In 1995 koopt Inver House Balblair en (Old) Pulteney van Allied Domecq.

De distilleerderij kat heet Whisky (2003).

September 2007

Werd tot nu toe Balblair uitgebracht als Elements, zonder leeftijd, 10-, 16-, en Limited Editions whiskies, worden de whiskies nu uitgebracht als Vintages.

De nieuwe flessen zijn bolvormig met een verwijzing naar de opmerkelijke stills. Op fles en etiket de kerven van de unieke Pictische standing stone nabij Balblair.

Manager is (2007) John MacDonald, Master Distiller is Stuart Harvey.

Produktie nu: 1,5 miljoen liter spirit per jaar.

Current Annual Distillery Output: 1.27 litres of alcohol

Cask storage: 26.000 casks in traditional Dunnage warehouses

Water source: Allt Dearg Burn in the Struie Hills

Malt Source: Muir of Ord Maltings

Malt Storage: 300 T

Mill Type: Porteus

Grist Storage: 4,6 T x 2

Mash Tun Conxtruction: Traditional rakes, Steel

Mash Size: 4,6 T

No. of Wash Backs: 6

Wash Back Construction: Oregon Pine

Wash Back Capacity: 30.000

Yeast: Maori

No. of Wash Stills: 1

Wash Still Charge: 19.600 litres

Heat Source: Steam Pans

Wash Still Shape: Traditional

No. of Spirit Stills: 2

Spirit Still Charges: 11.800 litres

Heat Source: Steam Pans

Spirit Still Shape: Traditional

1790 John Ross sticht Balblair

1824 Andrew Ross, zoon van, neemt Balblair over, vertrekt na een paar jaar naar Brora, en John Ross neemt Balblair weer over

1836 John Ross sterft en Andrew Ross, geholpen door zijn zoons neemt de distilleerderij over

1872 Een nieuwe distilleerderij wordt gebouwd, de oude wordt gebruikt als lagerpakhuis

1873 Andrew Ross sterft en zijn zoon James neemt de distilleerderij over

1894 James Ross start een nieuwe distilleerderij Balnagowan Estate sluit een nieuw contract met Alexander Cowan voor de tijd van zestig jaar.

Er wordt bepaald in het pachtcontract dat er een nieuwe distilleerderij gebouwd moet worden, ter vervanging van de bestaande. De nieuwe Balblair wordt een paar kilometer van de oude gebouwd, vlak-

bij een spoorlijn

1911 Alexander Cowan stopt met beatlen en de distilleerderij slui mtedewerkers verkopen in de volgende 20 jaar de voorraden, dit houdt op in 1932 Gedurende deze jaren is er geen produktie

1941 Balnagowan Estate gaat bankroet en Balblair staat te koop

1948 Robert Cumming, advokaat te Keith koopt de distilleerderij voor £ 48.000

1949 Balblair wordt weer opgestart

1970 Robert Cumming verkoopt Balblair aan Hiram Walker. Er wordt een derde ketel geïnstalleerd

1988 Door de overname van Allied Distillers van Hiram Walker, komt Allied Distillers in het bezit van Balblair

1996 Allied Domecq doet Balblair in de motteballen, maar hetzelfde jaar wordt Inver House de nieuwe eigenaar.

2001 Great Oriole Group neemt Inver House over

2004 Balblair 38 years is launched

2005 Balblair 12 years Peaty cask is launched

Balblair 26 years 1979 is launched

Balblair 35 years 1970 is launched

2006 International Beverage Holdings acquires Pacific Spirits U K

2007 3 new Vintages replaces the entire former range 1979, 1989, 1997

2008 Vintages 1975 and 1965 are launched

2009 Vintages 1991 and 1990 are launched

2010 Vintages 1978 and 2000 are launched

Ontstaan door een management - buy - out, onder leiding van Bill Robertson en Angus Graham, die £ 8,2 miljoen investeerden.

November 2001 werd Inver House voor £ 56 miljoen gekocht door Pacific Spirits, onderdeel van de op de Virgin Islands gevestigde Great Oriole Group van de Thaise zakenman Charoen Sirivadhanabakdi.

Manager van Pacific Spirits is Ooi Boon Aun.

Robertson en Graham ontvangen samen £ 37 miljoen en ook de 130 medewerkers ontvangen geld, sommigen £ 50.000.

Inbegrepen in de koop zijn de vijf distilleerderijen Knockdhu, Speyburn, (Old) Pulteney Balblair en Balmenach.

We, the most distant dwellersupon the earth, the last of the free, have been shielded…by our Remoteness and by the obscurity which has shrouded our name… Beyond us lies no nation, nothing but waves and rocks.

Pictish Chief Calgacus, recorded by the Roman enemy in the words of Tacitus almost 2.000 years ago.

Within sight of the Balblair Distillery, on the ancient plain of Eadar Dun, lies a great stone monument: erected over four millennia ago by a race now lost to history. This symbol stone has endured both time and season,

and is testament to the people who raised it against the brooding backdrop of the Ardross Hills

There arose a new nation, the Picts, who for a period took their place in the annals of Scottish

history and imbued the stone with their myth and legend. With singular talent and passion they

carved their sacred symbols, the salmon, a magical creature with the ability to pass safely

between fresh water, sea and air, and the double disc. Representing this world by day and the

other world by night, the sun´s two faces, benign in summer, malevolent in winter

It is this sacred stone, the ´Clach Biorach´, meaning sharp stone, which has inspired Balblair The Pictish symbols and ancient legends, ageless in a time of change, are part of the very essence of Balblair where the stone stands alone over the distillery, silent and elusive, asit has done all these ages past.

Balblair Distillery, located in the Northern Highlands of Scotland was founded by John Ross in 1790 on the shores of the Dornoch Firth in the village of Edderton.

This village takes its name from the ancient settlement of Eadar Dun, meaning ´between the forts´. It is on the very hills where these `forts´reside that the pure water of the Ault Dearg burn runs freely, supplying the distillery with the same rich source for over 200 years.

1 January 2010

The home of Balblair malt whisky at Edderton, near Tain has hosted its first wedding

Lynne Keating and Gregor Black, both police officers from East Lothian, thought The picturesque Easter Ross distillery would be a "dram"fine place to tie the knot after friends who own the nearby Carnegie Lodge Hotel recommended it

The couple visited, met distillery manager John MacDonald and were so impressed by the beautiful location that they booked it for the big day

"There's something quite special about a perfectly matured Highland single malt whisky about the essence of a VINTAGE year, captured in a bottle. About tasting it. Feeling it ".

John McDonald, Distillery Manager

Balblair Distillery is established in 1790 by local man, John Ross, although the first known records date from 1749.

1824

John Ross

THE ROSS FAMILY

John Ross is joined by his son, Andrew, and thereafter the sons and grandsons of John Ross operated the Balblair farm and distillery until the last years of the 19th century.

1862

Railway

RAILWAY OPENS

The Highland Railway Company build the Inverness to Ardgay line which opens on 1st June 1862.

1894

Balblair Gate

ALEXANDER COWAN

James Ross givesup the tenancy of Balblair which is transferred to Alexander Cowan, an Inverness wine merchant. Cowan brings Balblair into the 20th Century by building the present offices, still house, mash house, kiln and barns.

1895

Balblair Distillery & Railway Line

DISTILLERY RELOCATION

By now the railway had come to Balblair bringing coal for the still and boiler and barley for the malting. To take advantage of the railway line the Distillery is moved half a mile north to its current location.

1911

Distillery closes in 1911

MOTHBALLED

Tough economic times led to the distillery ceasing production.

1932

Balblair pagoda

THE LAST DROP

The last drop of whisky leaves the warehouses in 1932.

1939

Balblair Washbacks

OCCUPATION

It is probably just as well that the Distillery was dry, as the next occupants were the army, who commandeered the buildings at the outbreak of the Second World War until 1945.

1948

Balblair Workforce 1949

ROBERT JAMES “BERTIE” CUMMING

Robert James “Bertie” Cumming, a solicitor from Banff, purchases the distillery for £48,000.

1949

Production resumes 1949

PRODUCTION RESUMES

Production resumes for the first time since before the First World War.

1960

Balblair Distillery

LOCAL RAIL STATION CLOSES

The Edderton Railway Station closes in 1960.

1964

Balblair Aerial Shot

DISTILLERY EXPANSION

Balblair Distillery expands with extra warehouses and the first steam boiler.

1970

Balblair Distllery 1979

ALLIED DISTILLERS

Cummings sells Balblair Distillery to Hiram Walker, the company that later becomes Allied Distillers.

1980

Balblair Stills

DISTILLERY IMPROVEMENTS

Extensive development happens throughout the 1980's. A new roof is put on the mash house where two new steel grist bins are installed.

1996

Balblair Distillery

INVER HOUSE DISTILLERS

Balblair Distillery is purchased by Inver House

Distillers and so begins the newest chapter in the history

of this timeless distillery.

2007

Balblair Cask 2007

VINTAGES TIMED TO PERFECTION

In 2007 the bold move is taken to only release Balblair

as a Vintage Whisky. Every bottle of Balblair captures

the essence of its Vintage year, the year in which it was

distilled and laid down in casks.

2007

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1997, 1989 & 1979

Every Balblair cask is sampled, judged and hand-selected by

our Distillery Manager, John MacDonald, to find its optimum

maturation point, the point at which each Vintage says its ready.

The first Vintages released are 1997, 1989 and 1979.

2007

1986 whisky

December

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1986

Balblair Vintage 1986 is launched Exclusively for

Global Travel Retail.

2008

whisky bottle

January

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1975

Balblair Vintage 1975 is released in January 2008 as

the replacement Vintage for 1979.

2008

bottle label

July

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1990

Balblair Vintage 1990 is released as the Global

Travel Retail exclusive in replace of Vintage 1986.

2008

1965 whisky

October

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1965

Balblair launches its oldest offering to date, Balblair

Vintage 1965. This Single Cask was distilled on 23rd

March 1965 and matured in an American Oak ex-Sherry

butt producing only 350 bottles.

2009

1978 whisky

January

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1978

Balblair Vintage 1978 is released as the replacement

of 1975.

2009

1991 whisky

March

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1991

Balblair Vintage 1991 is introduced as the replacement

for Vintage 1989.

2010

whisky bottle

July

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 2000

Balblair Vintage 2000 is launched to replace Vintage 1997.

2010

1989 whisky

August

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1989 2ND RELEASE

The 2nd release of Balblair 1989 replaces Balblair 1991.

2010

1993 whisky

October

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1993

Balblair 1993 is launched as a market Exclusive

Vintage in Russia.

2011

whisky bottle

February

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1995

Balblair Vintage 1995 is launched as a Swedish

Exclusive.

2011

2000 whisky

July

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 2000 2ND RELEASE

Balblair launches its 2nd release of Vintage 2000.

2011

1991 whisky

September

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1991 2ND RELEASE

1991 2nd releases replace 1989 2nd release.

2011

1995 whisky

October

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1995 2ND RELEASE

Balblair Vintage 1995 2nd Release is released as

a Global Travel Retail Exclusive, replacing Vintage

1990.

2011

whisky bottle

November

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 2001

Balblair Vintage 2001 replaces Vintage 2000 2nd release.

2011

Distillery Visitor Centre

November

BALBLAIR OPENS ITS DOORS

Balblair opens its doors to visitors offering personal Distillery

tours, exclusive hand bottlings and shop. The 'Time Capsule'

rooms allows visitors to learn more about the history of Balblair

and experience the sights and sounds of particular past years

2012

1989 whisky

February

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1989 3RD RELEASE

Balblair Vintage 1989 3rd release is launched in place of 1991

2nd release.

2012

1975 whisky

February

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1975 2ND RELEASE

The 2nd release of 1975 replaces 1978 2nd release.

2012

1996 whisky

June

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1996

Balblair Vintage 1996 is launched as a Global Travel

Retail Exclusive.

2012

whisky bottle

July

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 2002

Balblair Vintage 2002 is launched as the replacement

Vintage for 2001.

2012

1997 whisky

September

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1997 2ND RELEASE

A 2nd release of the popular Balblair Vintage 1997 is

launched.

2012

1969 whisky

November

BALBLAIR VINTAGE 1969

Balblair Vintage 1969 is launched firstly in the States,

with globally availability rolling out later in 2013.

2013

Balblair Bottles

November

INTRODUCTION OF NEW VINTAGES

For the first time since 2007, 3 brand new Vintages are

introduced simultaneously; Balblair Vintage 2003,

Vintage 1990 2nd Release and Vintage 1983, as well as

the global introdcution of Balblair 1969.

2014

travel retail whisky

March

NEW VINTAGES EXCLUSIVELY FOR TRAVEL

RETAIL

March 2014 saw Balblair release three new Vintages

exclusively in the Travel Retail channel. Balblair Vintage

2004, matured in bourbon barrels, the first release of the

Balblair Vintage 1999 and the Balblair Vintage 2004,

which is matured in sherry butts

2014

June

BALBLAIR 1999 VINTAGE

This summer sees the launch of the second release of the 1999 Vintage from Balblair Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The aim here is to produce a richly fruity new make character, meaning clear worts, long fermentation in wooden washbacks before distillation in small, stumpy stills. This produces a sulphury/meaty note to the new make. In time this does two things: the sulphur lifts to show the delicate fruits behind, while the meatiness changes to add sweet toffee notes and, after extended ageing, a notable spiciness. Like most sulphury sites, time is required for this to happen.

The first Balblair distillery was built by the Ross family near Edderton in 1790, but in 1872 production was shifted to a new site next to the (then new) railway line which linked Wick to Inverness. The Ross family ran the site for its first 100 years, before Alexander Cowan took charge, but like so many distilleries it suffered at the start of the 20th century and was closed in 1911, not reopening until after WWII when Churchill set out his edict that whisky needed to be made and sold to the US.

Robert ‘Bertie’ Cumming, the owner of Old Pulteney, bought the silent site and ran it until 1970 when Canadian distiller Hiram Walker took over – before it was absorbed into what became Allied Distillers. The latter firm sold it on to the enterprising Inver House in 1996.

Bottlings had been intermittent – Balblair Elements was released in 2000 – but in 2007, Inver House radically repackaged the single malt and, taking a leaf from Glenrothes’ book, began bottling it in ’vintage’ releases. From being a pretty much unknown malt, the new look and the quality of the liquid were both revelatory.

In 2013 Balblair acted as the distillery where the (fictitious) only extant cask of Malt Mill was auctioned in Ken Loach’s whisky caper ‘The Angel’s Share’.

1790

Balblair distillery is founded by John Ross, whose family runs

production for 100 years

1894

James Ross sells Balblair to Inverness wine merchant Alexander

Cowan, who builds a new still house, mash house, kiln and barns

1895

The distillery is moved half a mile north to take advantage of the

new Inverness to Ardgay railway line

1911

Balblair is mothballed

1932

The last drop of whisky left in Balblair’s warehouses is sold

1939

The distillery is commandeered by the army for the duration

of World War II

1948

Banff solicitor and owner of Old Pulteney, Robert James

‘Bertie’ Cumming, purchases the distillery for £48,000

1949

Production resumes at the distillery for the first time since before

WWI

1964

Balblair distillery expands with the addition of further warehousing

and its first steam boiler

1970

Cummings sells the distillery to Hiram Walker, which later

became Allied Distillers

1996

Inver House Distillers purchases Balblair

2007

Balblair decides to only release vintage bottlings, the first three

of which are a 1997, 1989 and 1979 expressions

2012

A visitor centre is opened

2013

Vintages are replaced throughout the years as stocks run out,

but in 2013 the distillery released three new vintages: 2003, 1990 and 1983.

2015

Balbalir cnverted from using heavy fuel oil to gas.

CAPACITY (MLPA) i

1.6

CONDENSER TYPE i

Shell and tube

FERMENTATION TIME i

48hrs

FILLING STRENGTH i

68%

GRIST WEIGHT (T) i

4.75

HEAT SOURCE i

Steam

MALT SPECIFICATION i

1.5ppm

MALT SUPPLIER i

Crisp, Bairds, Boort

MASH TUN MATERIAL i

Stainless Steel

MASH TUN TYPE i

Semi Lauter

NEW-MAKE PHENOL LEVEL i

0ppm

NEW-MAKE STRENGTH i

68%

SPIRIT STILL CHARGE (L) i

11,751

SPIRIT STILL SHAPE i

Classic

STILLS i

WAREHOUSING i

8 dunnage warehouses

WASH STILL CHARGE (L) i

19,000

WASH STILL SHAPE i

Classic

WASHBACK SIZE (L) i

21,500

WASHBACK TYPE i

Wood

WASHBACKS i

WATER SOURCE i

Allt Dearg Burn

WORT CLARITY i

Fune, bright wort

YEAST TYPE i

Mauri MX liquid

OWNERS

International Beverage Holdings

2006 - present

CURRENT OWNER

Inver House Distillers

1996 - present

PREVIOUS OWNERS

Allied Domecq

1994 - 1996

Allied Lyons

1988 - 1994

Hiram Walker & Sons

1970 - 1988

Robert Cumming

1948 - 1970

Alexander Cowan

1894 - 1911

The Ross Family

1790 - 1894

BALBLAIR LAUNCHES NEW 1991 AND 2000 VINTAGES

January 2018

Highland distillery Balblair has unveiled two new limited-edition single malts —

the second release of its 2000 vintage and the third release of its 1991 vintage.

Balblair 1991 and 2000 vintage

Vintage update: Balblair's two new expressions, distilled in 1991 and 2000, will be available globally

The second release of the 2000 vintage has been matured in ex-Bourbon casks for 13 years, and finished in Spanish oak butts for a further five years. Bottled at 46% abv, the release will be priced at £70.

It’s described as having a nose that’s ‘full-bodied with aromas of seasoned oak, baked red apples and fruitcake,’ and a palate that features ground spices, brighter citrus fruits and honey.

The expression follows the 2000’s first release seven years ago, at the time the youngest whisky in Balblair’s lineup.

Meanwhile the third release of the 1991 vintage has been matured for 24 years in American oak barrels before spending three additional years finishing in Spanish oak butts.

The expression, which is bottled at 46% abv and described as having Balblair’s ‘signature citrus orchard flavour profile’ followed by richer notes of creamy chocolate and Christmas pudding, will be available for £125.

Both expressions will be available globally, both online and stocked in specialist retailers.

‘At Balblair, we only release our whisky when its ready and these new vintages are no exception,’ said Matt Jamieson, Balblair global brand manager.

‘Both featuring a very different nose and palate, the 2000 and 1991 are exquisite drams which are sure to appeal to the most discerning of whisky drinkers.’

Established in 1790, Balblair is one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland, located on the Dornoch Firth on the east coast.

The distillery is notable for never displaying traditional age statements on its labels, instead opting to use vintages to reference the year of distillation.

Balblair has always been situated on lands belonging to the Balnagowan Estate which was owned by Clan Ross from abour 1300 until 1972 when Egyptian business man Mohammed

Al - fayed previous owner of Harrod's in London until 2010, bought the estate and the castle whichis situated 15 kilometres south of Balblair.