Balblair Distillery

Balblair is what you imagine a distillery should be. The distillery sits on an ancient Pictish gathering place, tucked away near the banks of the Dornoch Firth. Their time-intensive methods make for more flavour-intensive malts. In the words of Distillery Manager, John MacDonald, “making whisky should be a craft, not a process.” And he ensures this runs through every aspect of what they do, right down to how they label their casks. They are hand-stencilled and dated by the men who filled them, affording their whisky the respect it deserves. Right on the distillery doorstep you will find the Clach Biorach, a four-thousand-year-old standing stone. Archaeologists believe it to be part of a prehistoric working calendar. On it, you will find a Pictish carving of a Z-rod which is said to represent the passage of time. Today, this stone reflects their dedication to craftsmanship. They honour century-old traditions by distilling at their own naturally considered pace, creating a whisky that is warm, elegant, and understated. The taste is enduring and full of character, just like those who make it and those discerning enough to drink it.