Balmenach Distillery
Balmenach, pronounced bal-men-ack, is a renowned single malt and gin distillery located in Cromdale, in the heart of whisky country in Speyside. With a history as old as it is acclaimed, Balmenach has played a significant role in the Scotch whisky industry.
It was one of the earliest distilleries in Scotland to obtain a license for the production of Scotch whisky in 1824, granted to James MacGregor. James MacGregor established the distillery under the name 'Balminoch' on Balminoch Farm, making it one of the oldest distilleries in the Speyside region. The name 'Balminoch' is derived from the Gaelic phrase 'Am Baile Meadhnach', which translates to 'the middle farm'.
Balmenach Distillery's rich history and contribution to the whisky industry make it a significant distillery in Speyside, known for its exceptional single malt whiskies and gin production.
Founded 1824
Capacity - 2MLPA
Wooden washbacks
Water source - Cromdale Hills
Worlds only working Copper Berry Chamber
Whisky and Gin Distillery
Kevin MacPherson
Distillery Manager
Born in Moray, Kevin now lives in the Speyside village of Cromdale – the heart of malt whisky country.
A passion for Scotland’s biggest export led him to start his career in the industry. He started his career at Chivas Brothers in the floor maltings at Benriach Distillery, then took a bottling hall position at Glenfiddich before returning to Chivas brothers to work in a variety of warehouse and shift operator roles across their distilleries. A move to Whyte and Mackay saw him progress from Warehouseman to Brewer, before his move to International Beverage in 2014 as Distillery Manager at Balmenach Distillery.
The lure of a new challenge (the upgrading of Balmenach Distillery) combined with working for a dynamic international drinks business, played a key factor in Kevin’s decision to take on the position.
Today in his role, no two days are the same. His remit stretches from loading casks and overseeing the smooth operation of the distillery, to carrying out essential repairs and dealing with visitors and VIPs. His highlights include being part of a team of skilled professionals who share his passion for the industry and the variety and new challenges that he enjoys on a day-to-day basis.
One of the aspects he enjoys most about the industry is the camaraderie enjoyed by its people, plus an increasing focus on sustainability. He is particularly proud to be involved in implementing Balmenach’s pioneering anaerobic digestion system, which will mean the distillery’s energy requirements will be from 100% renewable resources when it is fully operational. Outside of work, Kevin unwinds watching Formula One racing and maintaining cars
Sustainability at Balmenach Distillery
Our commitment to sustainability runs through all that we do. From water stewardship to energy efficiency, our pro-active approach has been years in the making and we work closely with the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) in our efforts to achieve net-zero carbon by 2040.
Water Stewardship
In 2017, Balmenach, one of Speyside’s oldest whisky distilleries and the home of Caorunn Scottish Gin, invested £4 million to develop an AD Plant to significantly reduce the distillery’s carbon footprint by enabling co-products to be processed on-site and discharged to water course.
40% of the water normally consumed in the process is discharged back into the
watercourse. 12 tankers (with a 25,000-litre capacity each) a week have been removed from the roads because all spent lees and washing waters are processed on-site and returned to
the watercourse.
Energy Reduction
Balmenach is now one of Scotland’s greenest distilleries, as the result of our
extensive investment in pioneering green technology and innovation.
The AD Plant and CHP engine will produce 30000kW of energy per week. 25000kW for internal use and then export 5000kW back to the grid.
THe Aerobic digestor reduces tanker haulage by 12 tankers (with a 25,000 litre capacity each) per week. We will also produce a permeate stream from the Anaerobic Digestor, which farmers is used as fertiliser.
Co-products
We are developing innovative methods to recycle the co-products of our whisky distillation. Our aim is to reuse all co-products and reduce our water consumption.
Balmenach has its own AD plant which processes all of our liquid Co-products to produce Biomethane which is burned in a Combined Heat and Power engine. This produces heat and electricity for the distillery.
Distillery Location
Situated a mile inland from the village of Cromdale, Balmenach is one of Speyside’s most traditional distilleries. Cromdale is at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, the largest park in the UK and is situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. With rolling hills, beautiful wildlife and stunning woodlands, Speyside plays a spectacular backdrop for Balmenach.
Distillery Location
Balmenach Distillery
Balmenach Road
Cromdale
Moray
PH26 3PF
United Kingdom