Although Ballindalloch is one of Scotland’s newer whisky distilleries, its roots run deep. The Macpherson-Grant family, custodians of Ballindalloch Castle since its construction in 1546, have long been intertwined with both Speyside and the whisky trade. Set along the River Avon, the castle remains the family home, but parts of the estate, including the gardens and select castle rooms are now open to the public. Visitors can enjoy a peaceful afternoon stroll through the immaculate grounds and sample hearty soups and pies at the charming on-site café. Proceeds from admissions, the café, and the gift shop help maintain the estate.

The family's whisky journey began not at Ballindalloch, but just up the road at Cragganmore Distillery. In 1869, Sir George Macpherson-Grant leased land from the Ballindalloch estate to distiller John Smith to establish Cragganmore. The family remained landlords until 1923, eventually becoming co-owners with White Horse Distillers. Their stake was held until 1965, when it was sold to DCL—marking a pause in their whisky endeavors.

That pause ended in 2011, when Guy Macpherson-Grant reignited the family’s distilling heritage by building a new distillery on the Ballindalloch estate. Production began in 2014, and in 2015 the distillery was officially opened by Prince Charles and Camilla. Uniquely situated within castle grounds, Ballindalloch is also celebrated as Scotland’s first single estate distillery, meaning all of the barley used in its production is cultivated on-site.

Ballindalloch remains a small, hands-on operation that honors traditional methods, resulting in limited production. Independent bottlings are exceptionally rare, making this Living Souls release a significant milestone—believed to be the first independently bottled Ballindalloch expression to reach the U.S.