Balvenie Castle
Though Balvenie hasn't witnessed any famous battle, siege or deadly deed, it's turbulent history speaks of the skulduggery of some of Scotland 's most powerful families. What stands today is a noble shell of a once grand residence at Balvenie Castle.
In its earliest period Balvenie was the chief seat of the 'Black' Comyn earls of Buchan. During the Wars of Independence they sided with the Balliol claim to the Scottish throne and when Robert the Bruce murdered John Comyn at Greyfriars Abbey they sided with Edward I of England against the Bruce. But they evidently picked the wrong side and the Bruce took his revenge on them ravaging the area and installing his supporters the Douglases as the Lairds of Balvenie. However they to would fall foul of Scotland's rulers when in 1455 King James II stabbed William Douglas to death and through him out of a window of Stirling Castle . The Douglases vowed revenged but were crushed by the King who granted Balvenie to his Stewart kinsman the earl of Atholl.
The grand ruins that can be seen today mostly date back to the period under the Earls of Atholl. The grand renaissance building on the east front, built by the fourth earl John Stewart provides the most striking architectural feature and together with its adjoining tower would have been the primary Atholl lodging, that once entertained Mary Queen of Scots . The coats of arms displayed on a panel above the entrance to the east front include the royal arms and those of the Stewart family and their, 'Forth fortune and fill thy coffers', apt considering their historical power and political chicanery.
Balvenie is also the name of a popular malt whisky, brewed next to the castle at the famous Glenfiddich distillery, the tempting smell of its malt brewing wafts over the grounds of Balvenie Castle.
