Braeval Distillery: One of Scotland’s Highest
Braeval at a glance
| Region | Speyside (Braes of Glenlivet, Moray) |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Owner | Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard) |
| Visitor centre | No — production-only |
| Tours | No public tours |
| Opening | Not open to the public |
| Website | chivas.com |
Overview
Braeval, high in the remote Braes of Glenlivet, is one of the highest distilleries in Scotland. Built for blending, it makes a light, grassy malt for the Chivas blends and is only rarely seen as a single malt.
The history
Braeval was built in 1973 by Chivas/Seagram (originally as Braes of Glenlivet, renamed 1994) in one of the most out-of-the-way spots in Speyside. It was mothballed in 2002 and reopened in 2008.
The water & the land
Braeval draws on Preenie Well and Kate’s Well in the high glen.
Braeval had no founding clan — it was a modern Chivas build in the Braes of Glenlivet, historic Gordon estate country.
Visiting
Braeval is not open to the public — it is a working production distillery. Its whisky appears mainly in blends and in occasional official or independent single-malt bottlings.
Nearby & more whisky
- Down the glen: The Glenlivet
- Also in the uplands: Tomintoul
- The whole picture: Scotch whisky — the full guide
Sources
- Braeval distillery — Wikipedia.
- Chivas Brothers; Scotchwhisky.com.