Benriach Distillery is gearing up to welcome visitors through the doors of its first-ever official visitor center next month following the completion of a six-figure investment project.
Featuring a bar, tasting lounge and retail space, the distillery’s visitor experience will open on Friday, May 21, 2021. Initially offering a variety of flavor-focused tastings following the easing of Scotland’s COVID-19 restrictions, visitors will be encouraged to discover Benriach’s multi-layered single malt heritage dating back to 1898.
The project follows the recent unveiling of Benriach’s new portfolio and marks the first phase of the distillery visitor center renovations as part of a major investment initiative by Brown-Forman who acquired the distillery in 2016.
Initially the new visitor center will offer two tasting experiences which will appeal to both single malt lovers and those at the beginning of their whisky journey. The ‘Sense of Flavour’ tasting will delve into the production process at Benriach, before zoning in on the distillery’s classic and smoky expressions at 10 and 12 years old. Visitors will also have the chance to explore their own flavor preferences with Scotch by trying Benriach in simple cocktail serves.
Additionally, a deconstructed cask tasting will be on offer for those who wish to dive deeper into the distillery’s creative heritage of eclectic cask maturation. The ‘Barrels, Butts and Barriques’ experience will offer visitors the chance to taste five individual cask types, culminating in a tasting of the Benriach 21 Year Old – showcasing how Benriach’s Master Blender Rachel Barrie builds rich layers of flavor in a range of fruit-forward single malts.
Visitors are required to pre-book their preferred tasting online before attending the distillery, which will open initially on a weekly basis from Friday – Sunday, 10:30AM – 5:00PM. Distillery tours of the production site will return when it is safe to do so.
Ticket prices:
- Sense of Flavour Experience – £20, 6 visitors max from 2 household bubbles
- Barrels, Butts and Barriques Experience: £45, 6 visitors max from 2 household bubbles
The new visitor center has been built using natural materials from local suppliers wherever possible and has drawn from the natural color palette of Speyside to inspire its interior. External to the visitor building, one of the distillery’s most prominent warehouses has been whitewashed and branded to cement Benriach’s new identity – a practice traditionally adopted by ancient distilleries in Scotland.
“The last year has been significant in Benriach’s journey with the launch of the distillery’s new flavour forward portfolio, so the unveiling of our first-ever visitor center is a special moment,” said Jennifer Proctor, Visitor Center Manager at Benriach Distillery. “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 center development. Whether a local to Speyside or a visitor from afar, we look forward to welcoming guests to discover Benriach’s world of flavour.”
Earlier this month, we sat down with Benriach Brand Ambassador Greg King to discuss the Smoky 12, the details behind its creation, and how best to enjoy the new whisky.
For more information about the new Benriach Visitor Center and how to book a tasting experience, head over to the official website.
