Benbecula Distillery, located in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, has commenced production of its single malt whisky, aiming for an annual output of 350,000 litres.
The distillery’s owner, Angus A. MacMillan, discovered the whisky recipe in the writings of 19th-century distilling historian Alfred Barnard. To bring this historic recipe to life, MacMillan enlisted master distiller Brendan McCarron, who has experience with the Glenmorangie Company, Oban Distillery, and Distell’s brands, including Bunnahabhain, Deanston, and Tobermory.
The whisky’s ingredients include bere barley, grown on MacMillan’s croft and nearby lands, fertilized with seaweed from the shoreline, along with local peat and heather. McCarron describes the spirit as “classically maritime in style: smoky on the nose, with salty and sweet peated notes,” achieved using light- to medium-peated malted barley to balance smokiness with fruity and floral notes. An innovative special batch of heather-peated bere barley will also be produced annually.
Benbecula Distillery will mature its whisky in Bourbon and Sherry casks and will also produce gin. The distillery, which occupies a former salmon-farming processing plant, features a glass-walled extension resembling a lighthouse, housing a copper pot still. This new landmark was part of a £12.5 million (US$17.3 million) investment plan initiated in 2020, supported by a £2.8 million (US$3.2 million) grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Angus MacMillan expressed his excitement about the distillery’s first production: “There’s nowhere quite like Benbecula, and we are proud to play a part in sustaining our island, creating skilled jobs, and producing a single malt whisky that captures the essence of this unique place.”
He praised Brendan McCarron’s expertise: “Brendan has created something very special, making the most of the good things Benbecula has to offer. Our malt will be kilned over fires laid with peat and foraged heather, reviving a rare malting technique from the 19th century. Under his guidance, we will also be creating a variety of flavour styles.”
Benbecula Distillery’s inaugural production marks a significant milestone, blending tradition with innovation, and promising a distinctive addition to Scotland’s rich whisky heritage.
