🥃 Allt-a-Bhainne
Single malt whisky distillery in Speyside near Ben Rinnes, built by Seagram in 1975 for blends; owned by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard); own bottling since 2018.
Allt-a-Bhainne is a Scotch single malt distillery in Speyside, at Glenrinnes in Moray, near Ben Rinnes. Seagram built it in 1975 to supply malt whisky for blends. Since 2001 it has belonged to Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, and its first official single malt under its own name came out in 2018.
History. According to Whiskypedia, the distillery was designed to make a light, estery malt for blending. It was mothballed in 2003 and reopened in 2005 under Chivas Brothers. Seagram operated it for 26 years until the sale in 2001.
How it is made. There are four stills: two wash stills of 21,000 litres each and two spirit stills of 13,000 litres each. Capacity is about 4.2 million litres of pure alcohol a year. Water comes from springs on Benrinnes, and the Mains Burn is used for cooling. The usual malt is barely peated (under 1 ppm), but in recent years the distillery has occasionally made a heavily peated variant.
Range. Whiskypedia says the distillery is only very occasionally bottled as a single malt. The magazine of the Scotch Whisky Association reported the September 2018 launch by Chivas Brothers: a peated, fruity Speyside malt at 40% ABV.
Why this matters to you. Because the single malt is released rarely, check the label for age, strength and casks. If the label gives no age, the whisky has by law matured for at least 3 years, but the exact age is not disclosed. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1975, Seagram; Glenrinnes (Moray), Speyside; mothballed 2003, reopened 2005 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Speyside) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | malted barley, usually under 1 ppm, occasional heavily peated runs; spring water from Benrinnes |
| Distillation method | twice, 4 stills (2 wash × 21,000 l + 2 spirit × 13,000 l) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; the 2018 bottling has no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (official 2018 bottling) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Allt-a-Bhainne → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Speyside whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Peated whisky, 🥃 Chivas Regal, 🥃 Aultmore
Frequently asked questions
Is Allt-a-Bhainne often sold as a single malt?
No. The distillery was built in 1975 for blends and, according to Whiskypedia, is only very occasionally bottled as a single malt; Chivas Brothers launched an official bottling in September 2018.
Who owns Allt-a-Bhainne?
Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky arm of Pernod Ricard, since 2001; before that Seagram owned the distillery.
Where does the water come from?
From springs on Benrinnes; the Mains Burn is used for cooling.
Is Allt-a-Bhainne a peated whisky?
The usual malt is barely peated (under 1 ppm), but the distillery has occasionally made a heavily peated variant; the 2018 bottling is described as peated and fruity.
How many stills does Allt-a-Bhainne have?
Four: two wash stills of 21,000 litres each and two spirit stills of 13,000 litres each.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Knockdhu · 🥃 Glen Elgin · 🥃 Glengyle · 🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Dailuaine · 🥃 Abhainn Dearg
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- Scotch Whisky Association, Whiskypedia: Allt-a-Bhainne (built 1975 by Seagram; Chivas Brothers/Pernod Ricard since 2001; 2 wash stills 21,000 l, 2 spirit stills 13,000 l; 4.2 mlpa; Benrinnes springs; mothballed 2003, reopened 2005; occasional heavily peated runs; only very occasionally bottled as single malt)
- Scotch Whisky Association, Scotch Whisky magazine: 'Bold' Allt-a-Bhainne to 'shake up' Scotch (4.09.2018; peated, fruity Speysider, 40 % ABV; Chivas Brothers bought the distillery from Seagram in 2001; built 1975)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)