Allt-A-Bhainne

Allt-A-Bhainne

SpeysideUnited Kingdom

Allt-á-Bhainne (pronounced 'Ollt-err-VANE') is a contemporary Speyside distillery established in 1975 by Chivas Brothers Ltd, then a subsidiary of Seagram. Purpose-built to secure malt whisky supply for the Chivas Regal blend portfolio, it became part of Pernod Ricard in 2001 following the Seagram acquisition. The distillery's Gaelic name translates to 'milk burn,' referencing the peaty, milky-white waters sourced from springs on Ben Rinnes' southern slopes. While primarily producing for premium blends, Allt-á-Bhainne has cultivated a niche reputation among whisky enthusiasts for its occasional single malt releases, which offer a modern Speyside profile characterized by subtle waxy, honeyed notes and delicate fruit complexity.

Address:
Glenrinnes, by Dufftown, Moray
Ownership:
Chivas Brothers
Production Capacity:
4m L.P.A.

History

Allt-a-Bhainne Distillery was built by Seagram's in 1975. The distillery's exterior resembles a compact fortress, perched on the northern slopes of Ben Rinnes, the principal mountain range in northern Speyside. The distillery itself is thoroughly modern and uncompromising, yet the six sections that comprise the building are cleverly stacked together, each with its own roofline. The frontmost section is clad in local stone, creating a visually pleasing overall effect. The distillery began production with a pair of stills, and a second pair was added in 1989. The entire production process was designed to be operable by a single person, a feature that remained true even after computers became commonplace. The whisky produced here is tankered to Keith and then filled into casks for maturation.

Curiosities

Two years before Allt-a-Bhainne was constructed, Seagrams predicted that the massive demand for Scotch whisky would continue unabated, and based on this forecast, built Braeval Distillery. However, the market did not develop as expected. Consequently, both distilleries experienced periods of being mothballed. The distillery never releases official bottlings; its whisky only appears through occasional independent bottlings.