Since its founding in 1889, Balvenie whisky has distinguished itself with a unique, honeyed flavor, cementing its place among Scotland's most renowned whiskies. Balvenie's distillery produces over 5.5 million liters of spirit each year, with every aspect of production taking place on-site. The barley is grown on nearby land, malted on-site, and the distillery even has its own cooperage for making casks. The distillery was established by Scotsman William Grant, who sought to help his Glenfiddich distillery meet demand by renovating nearby Balvenie House. Balvenie quickly became a success and, for almost a century, its whisky was primarily used in Grant & Sons blended whiskies. It wasn't until the 1970s that single malt releases became common, leading to Balvenie's popularity with its sweet, creamy, and rich character. Balvenie whiskies are known for their honey and vanilla notes, typical of Speyside expressions, with fruity flavors and deeper tones of oak, leather, and cigars. The Grant family still owns Balvenie, making it one of the longest single-family-owned distilleries in the world. Balvenie has won numerous awards, including the biggest gold medal haul in any one year for any brand at the International Spirits Challenge in 2006.