BenRiach releases milestone 10YO single malt

Elgin distillery BenRiach has launched a 10-year-old single malt – its first core range expression produced predominantly from spirit distilled under The BenRiach Distillery Company’s 11-year ownership.

Managing director Billy Walker and his South African partners Wayne Kieswetter and Geoff Bell acquired BenRiach from Chivas Brothers in April 2004.

Bottled at 43% ABV, the BenRiach 10 Years Old is classic Speyside in character. The cask formula focuses on ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks – the types of wood favoured at BenRiach. “This fresh, lively, fruit-laden single malt captures warm oak spices, green apple, dried apricots, peach and banana with subtle touches of aniseed, lemon zest and barley,” says Billy.

Sales director Alistair Walker says: “Last year we released our tenth anniversary BenRiach bottling with four casks from the first week of distillation, but that was a strictly limited one-off expression.

“Today’s release is something different and is even more important for us going forward. The BenRiach 10 Years Old is a key new launch for us as it marks a significant milestone – it is the first core range expression to be created predominantly from whiskies distilled at BenRiach since we took over in 2004. We have, effectively, been working towards this single moment since we acquired BenRiach Distillery and the 10 Years Old expression will become the cornerstone of our range.”

Back in 2004, Billy Walker said he had modest but robust plans “to revitalise the distillery and target new markets, taking BenRiach to specialist outlets around the globe”.

His “modest” objectives have been more than met in the last ten years. Today, BenRiach is one of the country’s most admired distillers, having added GlenDronach, Glenglassaugh and a bottling plant to its comprehensive portfolio.

It is now trading in over 40 countries worldwide with other emerging markets entering the negotiation stage. Over the 10 years BenRiach has won numerous prestigious awards; only last month Whisky Magazine announced it was the 2015 Global Whisky Distiller of the Year.

Earlier this year, the London Stock Exchange Group released its list of '1000 Companies to Inspire Britain' and The BenRiach Distillery Company was featured for the first time.

13 April 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor