Location and contact details
Location: Balblair, Edderton, Tain, Ross-Shire, IV19 1LB
Visit Type: Vistor Centre
Co-ordinates: 57.840470, -4.180417
Telephone: +44 (0)1862 821273
Web: https://www.balblair.com/ 
Twitter: Balblair Distillery (@Balblairwhisky)Facts and figures
| Location | Balblair, Edderton, Tain, Ross-Shire, IV19 1LB |
| Founded | 1790 |
| Owner | InterBev (Inver House Distillers) |
| Water Source | The Allt Dearg |
| Stills | 1 wash still (12,000 litres) 1 spirit still (8,500 litres) |
Opening Hours
Open weekdays 1000-1700 throughout the year and between 1000-1600 April and September; check for details of opening hours.
Tours are 1100 and 1400.
Tours
True Highland Spirit
£10
Angel's SHare
£25
Review: True Highland Spirit (11:00 on 03/10/2019)
Price: £10
I booked and paid for the tour online, so upon arrival I just had to check in and wait for the start. There was 8 people on the same tour, which starts with a video on the history of the distillery. On arrival I was asked if I was driving and told they would sort out a drivers pack for me to take the samples away with.
Onc the video was over, our guide shows us the Wall of Rogues which is the full-time staff at the distillery and gave us a brief introduction to who they are and then it was time to start thetour of the production aeas.
Photography was not allowed anywhere inside the distillery buildings used for production, but was allowed in the filling store and warehouse; no-one has given a reason for this before, but the guide here told us it was the result of changing insurers. Before the change photography was allowed anywhere.
Stepping outside the visitor centre, we saw the point where malted barley is delivered and then moved to the malt bins. The process of malting and milling was explained before we moved to see the Porteus mill which grind`s the malt down to grist.
Like many distilleries, Balblair was not built with tours in mind (it started distilling in 1790, making it the fourth oldest distillery in Scotland) so there is a bit of doubling back on yourself as you follow the process through.
We saw the mash tun, wash backs and stills with each process being explained; he also showed us the computer system which assists, rather than controlling, processes within the distillery.
The last stops before the visitor centre was the filling store and a warehouse where the types of cask was explained.
Back at the visitor centre, there was two tastings:
The tour was good and not at all rushed. Processes were well explained and when people had questions, they were all answered.
History
Balblair Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery located in Edderton, Ross-shire, Scotland.
Originally founded in 1790, the distillery was rebuilt in 1895 by the designer Charles C Doig to be closer to the Edderton Railway Station on the Inverness and Ross-shire Railway line. However, so good was the original water source that the rebuilt distillery chose to ignore a nearby burn in favour of the original Ault Dearg burn. To this day, the Balblair Distillery continues to use this original water source.
John Ross, the founder, ran Balblair as a thriving business and in 1824 he was joined by his son, Andrew. The distillery stayed in the Ross family until 1894 when the tenancy was taken over by Alexander Cowan. In 1948 the freehold was bought by Robert Cumming, who promptly expanded the distillery and increased production. Cumming ran the distillery until he retired in 1970 when he sold it to Hiram Walker. In 1996 Balblair Distillery was purchased by Inver House Distillers Limited.
Balblair has one of the oldest archives in distilling, with the first ledger entry dated 25 January 1800. John Ross himself penned that first entry, which read: “Sale to David Kirkcaldy at Ardmore, one gallon of whisky at £1.8.0dâ€.
Balblair Single Malt whisky is bottled in four vintages - 2000, 1997, 1989 and 1979 - with the design inspired by the nearby Pictish stone Clach Biorach, which is thought to be 4000 years old. The 1989 vintage won a Gold Medal and was judged "best in class" in the 2007 International Wine & Spirits Competition, and was recommended by Ian Buxton in 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die.
The distillery is now owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, whose other distilleries include the Speyburn-Glenlivet Distillery, Knockdhu Distillery, Old Pulteney Distillery and Balmenach Distillery.
