In 1869, The distillery is founded by John Smith, thought to be the most experienced distiller of his day. A former manager of Macallan, Glenlivet and Wishaw distilleries, and leaseholder of Glenfarclas distillery - he persuades his landlord, Sir George Macpherson-Grant, to lease him the land to build a new distillery at Ballindalloch beside the Strathspey railway line.