Glenburgie Distillery: History, Owner and Ballantine's Connection
Updated: 2 days ago
Glenburgie sits near Alves in Moray and is one of the quieter names in Speyside. Most of what it makes goes into blends, above all Ballantine's, but its story includes a 19th century founding, a pioneering female manager and an experiment with Lomond stills.
In this guide
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Glenburgie at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Region | Speyside, Scotland |
Ownership | Chivas Brothers / Pernod Ricard |
History | Kilnflat recorded 1820s; Glenburgie name from 1871 |
Whisky and production | Major part of Ballantine's blending inventory |
Named expressions | Ballantine's Glenburgie 15 Year Old |
Visits | Verify public access, current tours and opening times with the distillery before travelling. |
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Quick facts
Region: Speyside, near Alves, Moray
Also known as: Glenburgie-Glenlivet, Glen Burgie or Glenburry
Owner: Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard)
Capacity: 4,200,000 litres of pure alcohol a year after 2006
Main use: blends, most importantly Ballantine's, also Old Smuggler
History
A distillery called Kilnflat is mentioned as early as 1810, but official records only appear in 1829. After financial difficulty it closed in 1870, was renamed Glenburgie in 1871 and reopened in 1878 under Charles Kay.
Around 1880 it passed to Alex Fraser and Company, which incorporated in 1895. It was liquidated in 1925 and closed again between 1927 and 1935. In that period it was run by Margaret Nichol, described as the first female manager of any whisky distillery. Hiram Walker bought it in 1936.
Lomond stills and rebuild
In 1958 two Lomond stills were installed beside the existing stills. Spirit from them was kept separate and sold as Glencraig. The experiment ended in 1981 and regular stills replaced them. Allied Lyons bought Hiram Walker in 1987.
Production stopped entirely in 2000. The distillery was rebuilt in 2003 and 2004, keeping only the old stills. Pernod Ricard acquired Allied Domecq in 2005, bringing Glenburgie into Chivas Brothers. Two more stills were added in 2006.
Location and production
The distillery stands on an estate at the Mill Buie hills near Kinloss, according to Wikipedia. Most of the spirit is used for blends.
Visiting
Whiskypedia lists Glenburgie as not open to the public. The address is Glenburgie Distillery, Forres, Moray IV36 2QY.
Sources and gaps
Gaps for Filip: a core range with ABVs was not found, and the official Ballantine's page was not checked. Whiskypedia notes single malt bottlings are rare. Set the URL slug in SEO settings.
What makes Glenburgie distinctive?
Major part of Ballantine's blending inventory
Glenburgie whisky bottle and expression comparison
Glenburgie single malts are sold under Ballantine's branding, rather than as a large independent Glenburgie core range.
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation and context |
|---|---|---|---|
Ballantine's Glenburgie 12 Year Old | 12 years | Check bottle | Single malt from Glenburgie released in Ballantine's malt range |
Ballantine's Glenburgie 15 Year Old | 15 years | 40% | Fruity 15-year-old 40% ABV |
Ballantine's Glenburgie 18 Year Old | 18 years | 40% | Age-stated 18-year-old 40% ABV |
More distilleries in Speyside Scotland
Read about other distilleries in this whisky region.
Frequently asked questions about Glenburgie
Where is Glenburgie distillery?
Near Alves in Moray, Scotland, in the Speyside region.
Who owns Glenburgie?
Chivas Brothers, the Pernod Ricard whisky arm.
Who was Margaret Nichol?
She ran the distillery in the late 1920s and 1930s and is described as the first female manager of any whisky distillery.
What was Glencraig?
Spirit made on the Lomond stills installed in 1958, kept separate and sold under that name until 1981.
Where is Glenburgie based?
The distillery stands on an estate at the Mill Buie hills near Kinloss, according to Wikipedia. Most of the spirit is used for blends.
Sources and editorial checks
Original historical research and source notes are preserved in this guide. Producer details, distillery access and releases may change.
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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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