BenRiach Distillery: History, Owner, Range and Visitor Guide
Updated: 2 days ago
BenRiach is a single malt distillery in North Speyside, south of Elgin, founded by John Duff in 1898 and owned by Brown-Forman since 2016. It has closed, reopened and changed hands several times, and is known for working with three spirit styles: classic, peated and triple distilled.
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BenRiach at a glance
At a glance | BenRiach Distillery |
|---|---|
Location | Near Elgin and Longmorn, Speyside |
Founded | 1898, John Duff |
Owner | Brown-Forman |
Character and heritage | Classic unpeated, peated and triple-distilled spirits and diverse oak cask maturation |
Regular public visitor access | The distillery offers bookable tours and tastings. Check Benriach's official visitor listings. |
Bottle information | Some named official expressions, with availability dependent on market |
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The story, ownership and production of BenRiach
John Duff and the Puggy
BenRiach was established by John Duff next to his Longmorn distillery. A private railway with a steam locomotive called the Puggy joined the two, carrying coal, barley, peat and barrels.
Closure and maltings
Soon after the railway opened in 1900, the distillery stopped production following the bankruptcy of the buyer Pattisons Ltd. Only the maltings stayed in use, producing malt for Longmorn. BenRiach did not produce spirit again until 1965, when Glenlivet Distillers Ltd reopened it.
Ownership timeline
1965: reopened by Glenlivet Distillers Ltd
1978: Seagrams took over
2001: Seagrams became part of Pernod Ricard, and BenRiach ran for just three months a year
2004: bought by the independent BenRiach Distillery Company Limited, formed by Geoff Bell, Wayne Keswetter and Billy Walker
2008: the company acquired GlenDronach
2013: it acquired Glenglassaugh
2016: sold to Brown-Forman on 1 June
How BenRiach works today
The distillery says it seeks out casks from around the world and fills them with one of its three spirit styles, classic, peated or triple distilled. It also highlights Warehouse 13 and a malting season that honours historic craft. News on its site in January 2024 covered the return of The Sixteen and 40 year old malts.
Awards
Global Whisky Distiller of the Year, World Whiskies Awards 2015
Distillery of the Year, Malt Advocate Whisky Awards 2007
Best Rare Speyside for BenRiach Authenticus 21 Year Old, World Whisky Awards 2007
Gold medal for BenRiach 16 year old, International Wines and Spirits Competition 2006
BenRiach whisky bottles and key expressions
The comparison covers identifiable official bottles plus any explicitly labelled historic or special releases. Availability and exact cask details may vary by market and edition.
Named bottle / release | Age | ABV | Cask or release information |
|---|---|---|---|
Benriach The Original Ten | 10 years | 43% | Bourbon, sherry and virgin oak |
Benriach The Smoky Ten | 10 years | 46% | Bourbon, Jamaican rum and toasted virgin oak; peated and unpeated malt |
Benriach The Twelve | 12 years | 46% | Sherry, bourbon and port casks |
Benriach The Smoky Twelve | 12 years | 46% | Bourbon, sherry and Marsala wine casks; peated and unpeated malt |
Benriach The Sixteen | 16 years | Check edition | Selected oak and multifaceted cask maturation |
A closer look at Benriach The Original Ten
Whisky flavour, casks and tasting notes
Classic unpeated, peated and triple-distilled spirits and diverse oak cask maturation. The precise aromas and flavours depend on the individual bottle, cask and age. These are distillery style observations, not original Whisky Clan bottle tasting scores. We only publish a personal rating once we have reviewed that whisky.
Where can you buy BenRiach?
Check the individual source pages listed below and reputable whisky specialists or auctioneers for historic releases. Prices and distribution can differ across the UK, the US, Europe, Canada and Australia. Historic catalogue listings do not confirm current stock.
Visitor information
The distillery offers bookable tours and tastings. Check Benriach's official visitor listings.
Explore more Speyside distilleries
Balvenie: Read the history, owners and whisky styles
Mortlach: Read the history, owners and whisky styles
Glendullan: Read the history, owners and whisky styles
Dufftown: Read the history, owners and whisky styles
Aberlour: Read the history, owners and whisky styles
Craigellachie: Read the history, owners and whisky styles
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Frequently asked questions about BenRiach
Who owns BenRiach Distillery?
BenRiach is owned by Brown-Forman.
When was BenRiach founded?
1898, John Duff.
Where is BenRiach?
Near Elgin and Longmorn, Speyside.
Can you visit BenRiach?
The distillery offers bookable tours and tastings. Check Benriach's official visitor listings..
Which bottles does BenRiach have?
The best-known expressions are compared in the bottle table above. Check each edition's bottle strength and availability.
Sources, references and photo credits
BenRiach official website (benriachdistillery.com home page) and Wikipedia (BenRiach distillery). Heritage subpages on the official site did not load.
Featured image: original BenRiach distillery photograph from the Whisky Clan Wix media library. Attribution and correction requests are welcome.
Featured photograph: BenRiach Distillery in Speyside, photographed in 2019 by Jamesyessayan. CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped for the article header.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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