New Whiskey - Isle of Lewis

Went for a drive down the beautiful western coast of the Isle of Lewis to Uig. Went down to visit the newest and only whiskey distillery (well...legal one anyway...) in this part of northern Hebrides.



Web site is http://www.abhainndearg.co.uk/

The first commercial batch of whiskey is a 3 year old and is a really fine young scotch. The owner is a friend of my cousin Jonathan and was happy to take us through the process of making the whiskey. More complexity to the process than first imagined. Coopered mash tanks, tall copper kettles barley storage, and tightly coopered whiskey storage barrels. The smell of yeast working its way through the barley is unmistakable.

We had a couple of drams as we were standing outside the distillery where the barrels are being stored. The wind was blowing, rain visible in the distance and fresh water stream was actively splashing away beside the distillery building. What a beautiful sight! There is no better place to have a healthy, generous dram of uisge beatha. This is the real Scotland!


- Derek

Location:Uig, Isle of Lewis