The Balminoch distillery had previously been a family-run farm distillery, but after the Excise Act of 1823, became one of the first legally run distilleries. It is an isolated distillery, with very few official bottlings. The name derives from the Gaelic ‘Am Baile Meadhnach’ meaning ‘the middle farm’. Like many others, it produces a single malt predominantly used in blends such as Peter Dawson and Johnnie Walker. The Balmenach distillery closed in 1993 and then reopened in 1997 when it was bought by the Inver House and started production again in 1998.

The rare versions of Balmenach are released generally by independent bottlers, such as LMDW in the Partners range.

TRACES #4

BY TANJA TRUSCOTT

As human beings we have a complex relationship with the spaces around our urban centres. On the one hand we are often moved by the spirit of an untouched space, yet on the other hand we leave traces of our presence almost everywhere: in the meandering footpath, the silhouette of silos, the rectangular field, a running fence or the electrical cables overhead.

When I leave the city behind it is these traces I notice and want to capture, as these vestiges of our presence bring together the past and the future in the present landscape – creating and recreating the genus loci, or spirit of the place.