Speyside distillery Benriach unveils its first ever visitor centre

A SPEYSIDE distillery is all set to welcome locals and tourists to its first ever visitor centre next month.

Benriach's new visitor experience will open its doors on Friday, May 21, for weekends only initially, after a major investment by Kentucky-based drinks giant Brown-Forman.

Benriach unveiled its new range of whiskies last September, crafted by master blender Dr Rachel Barrie and the distillery team, and the opening will mark the first phase of its visitor centre renovations.

The design of the intimate visitor centre, in an old brewer's cottage, pays homage to tradition yet looks to the future.

The hues of Speyside were the inspiration for the interior as well as the packaging for its new range of whiskies. Natural materials from local suppliers have been used where possible.

Brand ambassador Stewart Buchanan said: "We really did want to tie with the tapestry of the Speyside landscape – the blue skies, the stones, the purple heathers."

Benriach dates back to 1898, when founder John Duff built the distillery on the site of the old Riach farm in north Speyside, drawing water from a mineral-rich aquifer deep beneath.

It closed just two years later in 1900 and remained shut until 1965. It then went through a series of owners until 2002, when after another two years of closure, the BenRiach Distillery Company Limited stepped in. Brown-Forman acquired the distillery in 2016.

Stewart describes Benriach as a small, compact and beautifully laid-out distillery.

Passers-by on the A941 road out of Elgin couldn't have failed to notice the Benriach name writ large in black on one of the distillery’s most prominent whitewashed warehouses.

The branding, painted after Christmas last year, is a nod to an old practice traditionally adopted by Scottish distilleries.

Stewart said: "Most people call this site 'the old Queen Anne' – not Benriach. Prior to us taking it over in 2004 there was a big 'Queen Anne' sign on the warehouse wall – the main road in front is known locally as the 'Queen Anne straight'.

"So hopefully now it'll become known as the 'Benriach straight'."

The visitor centre features a bar, tasting lounge and retail space.

Benriach has a long-standing tradition of distilling classic, peated and triple-distilled whisky.

Initially the centre will offer two tasting experiences: "Sense of Flavour", and a deconstructed cask tasting the "Barrels, Butts and Barriques" experience.

Jennifer Proctor, visitor centre manager, said the unveiling was a special moment.

She said: "From cask tastings to cocktails, we’ll initially be offering two flight-style tasting experiences that allow customers to explore Benriach’s flavour spectrum.

"When restrictions allow, we will reveal our full distillery tour offering and announce the next phase of the distillery visitor centre development.

"Whether a local to Speyside or visitor from further afield, we look forward to welcoming guests from near and afar to discover Benriach’s world of flavour."

Visitors are advised to pre-book tastings online. Distillery tours of the production site will return when it is safe to do so.