Glenallachie team takes shape ahead of new releases

Glenallachie has appointed Richard Beattie as its new operations director, as the Speyside distillery prepares to release its first single malts since changing hands.

Richard Beattie has joined Glenallachie as its operations director

Beattie joins Glenallachie from Mossburn Distillers, owner of the Torabhaig Distillery in Skye and Akashi Distillery in Japan, where he worked as director of distilling.

He has 30-years’ experience in the Scotch industry and began his career managing the Speyside Scotch Malt Whisky Distillery, before moving on to roles with Crisp Malting Group and Briggs of Burton.

Beattie is also a fellow of the Institute of Brewers and Distillers, former chairman of the Scottish section of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling, and member of the education and training committee for the Malt Distillers Association of Scotland.

French drinks group Pernod Ricard announced that it had sold The Glenallachie Distillery to a consortium of investors for an undisclosed sum last year. The deal, which was completed in October, also included the sale of blended Scotch brands MacNair’s and White Heather.

The consortium is led by Billy Walker, former managing director of the BenRiach Distillery Company, and also includes his former BenRiach colleague Trisha Savage and Graham Stevenson, ex-managing director at Inver House Distillers.

“Richard brings a wealth of experience and knowledge not only about whisky making itself but also understands the intricacies of distillery engineering and design,” said Walker.

“Incidentally, Glenallachie was designed so that the whole process was gravity fed, this is one of the reasons we have horizontal condensers which is an unusual feature for a distillery.”

Glenallachie plans to launch the first selection of whiskies under its new ownership later this year, ranging from 10 to 25-years-old. Plans for special edition expressions are also in the pipeline.

Based on a 20-acre estate in Speyside, the distillery has warehouse stocks dating back to the 1970s.

“Glenallachie is one of Speyside’s younger distilleries, yet we’re fortunate to have a substantial stock portfolio laid down ready for release,” commented Walker.

He added: “We are looking forward to bringing classic Glenallachie single malt to a new generation, and exploring how it can deliver new blends that can become the classics of the future.“