Creating a new distillery
The idea of building a new distillery at Ballindalloch began in the summer of 2011 and was to replace the old steading on the Estate, which was nearly derelict. After realising that a new distillery would be the perfect solution to revamp the old steading and benefit the estate long-term, several conversations took place, and the decision to commit to the building project was taken a year later.
Over the next two years, work was carried out to renovate and fit out the old farmsteading, with the majority of work carried out by a small group of exceptionally skilled craftsmen and businesses within 25 miles of the Estate. The Macpherson-Grant family was committed to using local trades, from the stonework to the slates on the roof, woodwork, and interior decoration.
The team at the Ballindalloch Distillery is known to be highly involved from the outset. The distillery maintains a strong commitment to tradition, and their single-estate nature enables them to manage every aspect of the whisky-making process. From the barley grown at the Ballindalloch Home Farm to the draff fed back to cattle across the Estate and water flowing freely from the Garline Springs, they craft whisky more akin to traditional methods. The Ballindalloch Distillery's construction and opening signify a return to the whisky distilling industry for the Macpherson-Grant family.