Benrinnes was first built in 1826 at Whitehouse Farm (Speyside) by Peter Mackenzie, before being rebuilt at another site three years later following a flood. After changing hands several times, with owners including Alexander Edward—also the owner or joint owner of Craigellachie, Aultmore, Dallas Dhu and Oban—it became part of Distillers Company Limited in the 1920s. The new managers modernized the distillery and increased its production capacity. In 1974, it began using partial triple distillation, as at Mortlach, leading to a whisky with an animal-like character. This technique was abandoned in 2007. The Benrinnes single malt for a long time remained in the shadows, with no official bottling. It is found in the Flora and Fauna series and in independent bottlings.

A 21 year old Benrinnes single cask (#2579) distilled in 1974, matured in a butt and bottled by Signatory Vintage in 1995. Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988 by Andrew Symington, who previously worked at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, where he would select casks specially for the hotel. In 2002, he bought the Edradour distillery in Pitlochry, in the Highlands of Scotland and moved Signatory Vintage to the site, including the warehouses opposite the distillery. A limited edition of 695 bottles.