Nestled deep in the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, you’ll discover the home of Caorunn and the Balmenach Distillery. The distillery was established in 1824 by James MacGregor, originally from a family of farmers and illicit distillers who resided in Tomintoul.
Situated on the banks of the River Spey, the distillery stands beneath the nearby hill of Tom Lethendry, where the Jacobites were defeated in the Battle of Cromdale in 1690.
In 1897 the distillery was purchased by Glenlivet and was served by its own railway branch off the Strathspey Railway until 1969. The distillery closed in 1941 and re-opened in 1947, following expansion of its facilities.
Expertly handcrafted in small batches of 1,000 litres by Simon Buley. Harnessing Scotland’s unique natural resources, Caorunn is infused in the world’s only working Copper Berry Chamber. The highest quality pure grain spirit and crystal clear Scottish water are married with 6 traditional and 5 Celtic handpicked botanicals from surrounding hills. Caorunn (pronounced ‘ka-roon’) from the Gaelic ‘Rowan Berry', is a quadruple distilled modern London Dry. The taste is clean, sweet, full-bodied, with a fresh, long-lasting finish.
Key Botanical(s): Rowan Berries, Coul Blush Apple, Heather, Dandelion, Bog Myrtle
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 41.8% vol
Goes great with: Slices of red apple, tonic and ice.
Created to mark 10 years since the Caorunn brand was established, this flavoured gin, which is a first for Caorunn, is produced in batches of 1,000. Using the signature recipe for Caorunn with the addition of Scottish raspberries creates a gin that is unmistakably Caorunn whilst still delivering a bright and clean burst of fruit. With raspberries sourced from Perthshire and distilled using the unique Copper Berry Chamber, the gin carefully blends the traditional with the contemporary to create a gin that has lingering notes of vanilla and raspberries.
Key Botanical(s): Rowan Berries, Coul Blush Apple, Heather, Dandelion, Bog Myrtle, Raspberries
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 41.8% vol
Goes great with: Raspberries, red apple slices, tonic and ice.
Distilled and bottled at 54% ABV, Caorunn Highland Strength is a peppery, fruity and herbaceous gin with a strong juniper character. The higher ABV delivers more fragrance on the nose and a deeper, more complex flavour profile.
Key Botanical(s): Rowan Berries, Coul Blush Apple, Heather, Dandelion, Bog Myrtle
Gin Style: Navy Strength
Strength: 54% vol
Goes great with: Red apple slices, tonic and ice.
This juicy, citrus tipple was actually a result of some consumer research by the brand who considered twelve different flavour options and Blood Orange came out on top. Similarly to their Caorunn Scottish Raspberry Gin, this is a full strength, naturally flavoured gin, with no artificial flavours and colourings and no added sugar. Caorunn’s Celtic botanicals perfectly complement the natural flavour of Blood Orange, further enhanced with a hint of Chilli essence to create a vibrant, refreshing, and fruity gin. The taste is sweet and elegant, with a spicy, floral warmth.
Key Botanical(s): Rowan Berries, Coul Blush Apple, Heather, Dandelion, Bog Myrtle, Blood Orange
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 41.8% vol
Goes great with: A slice of orange, tonic and ice.
Almost a decade after launch, this is the first extension to the Caorunn range. Crafted exclusively for travel retail, Gin Master Simon Buley created this expression using a balance of traditional and foraged botanicals to create an exceptionally fresh, clean flavour bursting with vibrant juniper and the soft fruity notes of rowan and apple, perfectly encapsulating and enhancing the vert essence of Caorunn. Bottled at 48%, Caorunn Master’s Cut boasts the highest ABV of any gin in British airports.
Key Botanical(s): Rowan Berries, Coul Blush Apple, Heather, Dandelion, Bog Myrtle
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 48% vol
Goes great with: Slices of crisp green Granny Smith, tonic and ice.
Established in 1824 by James MacGregor, whose family were farmers (and illicit distillers), the Balmenach Distillery resides on the banks of the River Spey and is home to Caorunn Gin and the Caorunn Gin Distillery. Guests on the Caorunn Gin Tour are treated to an intimate and personal Scottish Gin experience where they learn more about the production process used to create Caorunn Gin. After the behind-the-scenes look at the distillery, guests then experience a tutored deconstructed nosing and tasting session of Caorunn Gin, which gives guests the chance to explore and discover more about the botanicals along with a neat tasting of Caorunn Gin. The tour is finished with a perfect serve Caorunn Gin and Tonic.
Tour: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Book a distillery tour here
You can learn more about the maker by clicking the links below.
