About Balblair Whisky Distillery
Distillery Number
01862 821273
Distillery Capacity
1 330 000 litres
Distillery Founded
1790
Distillery Status
Active
Distillery Address
Edderton, Ross-Shire
Distillery Owner
Inver House Distillers (Thai Beverages plc)
Distillery Website
www.balblair.com
1790
The distillery is founded by John Ross.
1824
The son Andrew Ross starts taking over, but moves to Brora after a couple of years and John Ross takes over again.
1836
The founder John Ross dies and Andrew Ross takes over with the help of his sons.
1872
New buildings replace the old.
1873
Andrew Ross dies and his son James takes over.
1894
Balnagowan Estate signs a new lease for 60 years with Alexander Cowan. He builds a new distillery, a few kilometres from the old.
1911
Cowan is forced to cease payments and the distillery closes. The staff sell out the whole stock in the 20-year period until 1932.
1941
Balnagowan Estate goes bankrupt and the distillery is put up for sale.
1948
The lawyer Robert Cumming from Keith buys Balblair for £48 000.
1949
Production restarts.
1970
Cumming sells Balblair to Hiram Walker. A third still is installed.
1988
Allied Distillers become new owners through the merger between Hiram Walker and Allied Vintners.
1996
Allied Domecq sells the distillery to Inver House Distillers.
2000
Balblair Elements and the first version of Balblair 33 years are launched.
2001
Thai company Pacific Spirits (part of the Great Oriole Group) takes over Inver House.
2004
Balblair 38 years is launched.
2005
12 year old Peaty Cask, 1979 (26 years) and 1970 (35 years) are launched.
2006
InverHouse changes owners when International Beverage Holdings acquires Pacific Spirits UK.
2007
Three new vintages replace the entire former range.
2008
Vintage 1975 is released.