The Braes of Glenlivet, a prime spot for illicit stills in the 18th and 19th centuries, may have hosted moonshining until recently, according to local rumors. Its remote, sheltered pastures lacked a road until the 1960s, with a distillery arriving in 1972.
The site was originally selected by Seagram—at the time still vying to acquire The Glenlivet—reportedly due to the exceptional quality of its water. Notably, the first mash was carried out before the distillery's roof was completed, as the chairman was traveling from Canada to inspect the new facility.
Braeval was among the first distilleries in Scotland to be fully automated and to feature all its equipment housed within a single open-plan space. Although it includes a pagoda roof, no malting has ever been conducted on-site.
The distillery became part of Pernod Ricard’s portfolio in 2000, following the company’s acquisition of Seagram’s Scotch whisky division. The following year, production was suspended, and the site remained mothballed for six years. Today, it operates at full production capacity.
Initially named Braes of Glenlivet, the distillery was later renamed Braeval to prevent confusion with its renowned neighbor, The Glenlivet.
