Balmenach is one of Speyside’s older distilleries, first licensed in 1824 when James McGregor formalized what had been an informal, illicit whisky operation on his farm in Cromdale following the Excise Act of 1823. The distillery stayed in the McGregor family until 1897, when it became the Balmenach Glenlivet Distillery Company and changed hands several times in the early 20th century as part of larger blends-focused producers. Over the decades it modernized its facilities and expanded production, but like many historic distilleries it faced economic pressures. Production was halted in 1993 and mothballed for several years before being purchased by Inver House Distillers in 1997. Balmenach has rarely been bottled as a single malt, its spirit prized mainly for blending, but it remains active today under Inver House ownership. This rare old Balmenadch was distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2023 to commemorate the launch of Hunter Laing's exceptional new Islay distillery Ardnahoe. Bottled from a refill bourbon barrel at a natural cask strength of 42.9%, few modern bottlings of old Balmenach exist. Expect a nose of orchard fruit, lemon oil, creamy sherbert. A palate of sweet toffee, green ferns and candy floss with a long lingering finish.