A Traditional Day at Benromach

Crowds of people from far and wide flocked to Benromach Distillery’s Free Family Funday on Sunday 2nd May during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2004.

The highlight of the event took place at 2pm when distillery owners, Gordon and MacPhail, the World’s Leading Malt Whisky Specialist, launched their new single malt scotch whisky – Benromach Traditional.

Casks and bottles of the new whisky were delivered to the Distillery on a vintage Albion lorry, exactly like the lorries that would have been used by distilleries in years gone by.

In a launch ceremony, a bottle of Benromach Traditional was presented to the current distillery manager, Keith Cruickshank, by one of the original distillery owners from 1898, Duncan MacCallum, who was resplendent in formal Victorian wear of morning coat and top hat.

Mr MacCallum drove to the Distillery in the cab of the Albion lorry and was delighted to join Keith in the first tasting of Benromach Traditional.

Hundreds of people watched as the two distillery managers took a dram of the new whisky and both declared it to be ‘quite exceptional’ to the crowds.

Ian Urquhart, Managing Director of Gordon and MacPhail, comments,

"Benromach Traditional is the first bottling of single Speyside malt whisky distilled since Gordon and MacPhail reopened Benromach Distillery in 1998 and recommenced distilling. Its launch is a momentous event in the history of both the Distillery and Gordon and MacPhail and we are delighted that so many people could be here today to see the launch."

Ian continues,

"Benromach Traditional has been hand made and matured here at Speyside's smallest working distillery using traditional processes and working methods.

We are sure that everyone will enjoy this rich and mellow single malt whisky.”

In addition to the launch ceremony, families were entertained with live events on stage and in the surrounding distillery grounds.

This year featured the talents of the June Roy Highland Dancers and an excellent display of the ancient martial art of Tae Kwon Do. Live music was provided by Jim and Nina McKellar, the Forres Pipe Band and the Drummond Cook Scottish Dance Band.

The cooper from the Isla Cooperage demonstrated the art of cask-making and a coppersmith from Highland Spirit showed visitors the intricate skills required to make whisky stills.

Hundreds of people took up the nosing challenge in the Malt Whisky Centre putting their olfactory skills to the test to win a bottle of Benromach Traditional.

All the places on the free tours of the distillery were taken up by visitors eager to learn more about the traditional art of making whisky.

The children were entertained by having their faces painted or playing games like ‘Bung the Bung’, ‘Whisky Buzz’ and ‘Hoop the Hoggie’.

Ian comments,

"Gordon & MacPhail is delighted to have been able to welcome so many people to Benromach Distillery again.

And this year is particularly important for the distillery with the launch of Benromach Traditional."