Kininvie Distillery
Kininvie Distillery is a semi-secretive Speyside distillery in Dufftown, built on the grounds of The Balvenie Distillery and owned by William Grant & Sons. Founded on 4 July 1990, it occupies the youngest position in a remarkable cluster: Kininvie, Balvenie, and Glenfiddich all share the same corner of Dufftown, making it one of the most concentrated whisky-producing sites in Scotland.
The distillery was created primarily to supply malt for blending — most significantly as a component of Monkey Shoulder blended malt whisky alongside Balvenie and Glenfiddich spirit. It lacks its own mash house; wort is piped approximately 200 metres from Balvenie's mash tuns, an unusual operational arrangement reflecting its purpose as a still house extension of the existing complex. Official single malt bottlings are extremely rare.
Tours
Not available
On-site Shop
No shop
Online Shop
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History
William Grant & Sons built Kininvie as a production expansion within the Balvenie complex, commencing production on 4 July 1990. The decision was driven by demand for blending malt, and from the outset the distillery was designed for volume rather than as a standalone single malt brand. It consists solely of a still house; all mash preparation is handled at the adjacent Balvenie site.
For its first decade and a half, Kininvie's spirit was used almost exclusively in blends. From 2005, it joined Balvenie and Glenfiddich as one of the three malts in Monkey Shoulder. In 2013 William Grant & Sons began releasing small quantities of Kininvie as a single malt, starting with a 23-year-old distilled in 1990 — the very first production run. The whisky was dedicated to Janet Sheed Roberts, the granddaughter of William Grant and Scotland's oldest person at the time; it appeared under the Hazelwood label.
Production
Kininvie operates three wash stills and six spirit stills — an unusually asymmetric configuration reflecting the emphasis on maximising spirit output. Water is drawn from the Conval Hills, the same source used by Balvenie and Glenfiddich. Fermentation wort is piped from Balvenie's mash house rather than being produced on-site. The stills were originally computer-controlled and operated around the clock to meet demand.
Tasting Character
Kininvie produces a light, fruity, and delicate spirit well suited to blending. In the rare single malt releases, the character shows honeyed stone fruit, gentle floral notes, and a smooth, creamy texture that handles extended maturation with considerable grace. The first official release — the 23-year-old — demonstrated depth and elegance that surprised observers given the distillery's low profile. The Hazelwood range and occasional limited Kininvie bottlings represent the only windows into the spirit outside Monkey Shoulder.
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- Monkey Shoulder (40% ABV) — Blended malt combining Kininvie, Balvenie, and Glenfiddich spirit; bourbon cask maturation; widely available
- Kininvie 23 Year Old (single malt, limited) — First official single malt release in 2013; distilled 1990; honeyed, gentle, and surprisingly elegant
- Hazelwood 17 Year Old Batch 001 — Single malt limited release; dedicated to Janet Sheed Roberts
- House of Hazelwood blended whisky£650.00 — Later use of the Hazelwood name for a blended range
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Visiting
Kininvie is not open to visitors and has no public tours. The distillery operates entirely within the Balvenie complex. Visitors interested in the William Grant & Sons story should visit the Balvenie or Glenfiddich visitor centres in Dufftown.