Braeval Distillery

Braeval was founded in 1973 under the name “Braes of Glenlivet” of Chivas & Glenlivet Group with the sole purpose of producing whiskey for blended whisky for Chivas and Glenlivet Group.
Production began in October of that year. Already in 1975 the number of Stills extended from 3 to 5 and for an additional to 6 Stills in 1978.
In 1994 the distillery name change from “Braes of Glenlivet” to Braeval, to avoid confusion with The Glenlivet.
In 2001 acquires Pernod Ricard, Chivas and stop production in October 2002. The production resumed at July 11, 2008  after a modernization of the distillery and it is today one of the most modern distillery in Scotland.
 
The distillery currently has a capacity of up to 4.0 million liters of alcohol per years, can be operated by a single employee. The distillery is located in the southern part of Speyside, in the Life Glen Valley and is one of the highest located distillery in Scotland ( same as Dalwhinnie), with a location at 1665 feet above sea level, close to distillers: The Glenlivet, Tomintoul and Tamnavulin. Braeval is built on a mountain ridge, sharing water source (“Pitilie Burn”) with Aberfeldy distillery. The distillery has not its own store but carrying the newly alcohol to Chivas store in Keith. 
 
Braeval / Braes of Glenlivet has never released their own single malt, since almost all production is used for Chivas blends.
The independent bottler Aberko Ltd. has released two bottlings, a 10 year old and a 15 year old under the name “deerstalker”, as well as Duncan Taylor, Gordon & Macphail, Douglas Laing and others has released several different bottlings.
 

  • Owner

    Chivas Brothers Holdings
    Parent Company
    Pernod Ricard

  • Status

    Operational

  • Country

    Scotland

  • Region

    Speyside

  • Production type:

    Single Malt

  • Founded

    1973

  • Production yearly

    4.200.000 Liters

History

The site was chosen by Seagram – at that point still in pursuit of The Glenlivet – purportedly because of the quality of its water. Famously, the first mash took place before the roof had been put on the distillery because the chairman was coming from Canada to inspect his new baby.

It was one of the first wholly automated distilleries in Scotland and one of the first to contain all of the equipment in a single open-plan space. Although it sports a pagoda roof, no malting has ever taken place.

It became part of Pernod Ricard’s portfolio when the firm took over Seagram’s Scotch whisky division in 2000. The following year, its new owner mothballed it for six years. It is now in full production.

Originally known as Braes of Glenlivet it changed its name to Braeval to avoid any confusion with its more famous neighbour. 

Distillery Facts

Taste profile

Core range 

At this point Braeval’s core range is: 

Rare Release

  • Braes of Glenlivet, 25 year old Rare Release
  • Braes of Glenlivet 27 year old, Rare Release

Secret of Speyside Collection 

  • Braes of Glenlivet 25 year old Secret Speyside Collection
  • Braes of Glenlivet 27 year old, Secret Speyside Collection
  • Braes of Glenlivet, 30 year old, Secret Speyside Collection

Cask Strength Release

  • Braes of Glenlivet 1988 
  • Braes of Glenlivet, 30 year old 

Distillery Reserve 

  • Braeval 2000 The Distillery Reserve Collection, 16 year old 
  • Braeval 2002 The Distillery Reserve Collection, 17 year old
  • Braeval 2002 The Distillery Reserve Collection, 16 year old  

Visitor center 

 

No visitor center and the distillery isn’t open for the public

CONTACT DETAILS

Braeval Distillery
Chapeltown
Moray
AB37 9JS
United Kingdom

  • tel: +44 1542 783042

Livingbythedram social media links 

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