Alexander Cowan takes a 60 year lease on Balblair, ‘New’ distillery built on present site
1911
Distillery stops production
1932
Last whisky is taken from the Balblair warehouses
1939
Army commandeers buildings at Balblair and stay for duration (1939 – 1945)
1948
Distillery acquired by Robert James ‘Bertie’ Cumming (also owner of Pulteney Distillery)
1949
Resumes Production
1964
Expansion of the distillery, extra warehouses and first steam boiler built
1970
Distillery sold to Hiram Walker of Ballantine’s whisky (Now Allied Distillers)
1996
Balblair Distillery bought by Inver House Distillers
2000
Start bottling Balblair 33 year old
2003
Gold Medal Winner – International Wine & Spirit Competition (33yo), ‘Best of the Best’ Mainland Malt (33yo),
2004
Balblair 38 year old released, Global sales increase 25%
2005
US distribution achieved,
Gold Medal Winner – San Francisco Spirits Competition (16yo),
Gold Medal Winner – International Wine & Spirit Competition (16yo),
IWSC award, a’bunadh’ Trophy for Special Edition Single Malt Whisky (38yo)
2006
Gold Medal Winner, Best in Class - International Wine & Spirit Competition (38yo)
Silver Medal Winner - International Wine & Spirit Competition
(16yo)
Silver Medal Winner, Best in Class – International Wine &
Spirit Competition (26yo)
Silver Medal Winner – International Wine & Spirit Competition (35yo)
Double Gold Medal Winner – World Spirits Competition (16yo)
Gold Medal Winner – International Spirits Challenge (35yo)
Gold Medal Winner – International Spirits Challenge (38yo)
Silver Medal Winner – International Spirits Challenge (26yo)
2007
Balblair redesigned and relaunched as a super premium Highland Single Malt in vintage format – 1979, 1989 and 1997
Balblair appoints the Leith Agency to manage its first Global Direct Marketing Campaign
2011
Visitor Centre opened
Balblair
Distillery Comments
One
of the oldest working distilleries in the industry.
Founded
in 1790, Balblair is among Scotland's oldest distilleries.
It is situated in one of the most beautiful parts
of the country, where the Ross-shire burns flow down
the Struie Hill to the farmlands of Edderton, the "parish of the peats" and down onwards to
the shores of the Dornoch Firth.
