Balblair

Balblair sits in the village of Edderton, near the Dornoch Firth in the northern Highlands. The distillery was founded in 1790 by John Ross, and in the 1890s it was rebuilt a short distance away, close to the new railway line. It is owned today by Inver House Distillers, part of International Beverage.

Balblair makes an unpeated spirit with a bright, fruity character, often showing apple, citrus and honey, which suits both bourbon and sherry casks. The distillery is small and traditional, and much of its output has long gone into blends. Fans of film may know it from Ken Loach's The Angels' Share, which was partly shot there.

For many years the official range was built around vintages rather than ages, with releases such as the 2002 1st Release. In 2019 Balblair moved to age statements, and a buyer now meets the 12, 15, 17, 18, 21 and 25 Year Old bottlings, plus occasional limited editions. Older vintages and the 10 Year Old from the 1990s turn up on the secondary market.

Balblair is also bottled regularly by independents. Gordon & MacPhail, Douglas Laing's Provenance, Hunter Laing, A.D. Rattray, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt and smaller names such as Chorlton Whisky and Dràm Mòr offer single casks and small batches, often at cask strength.