Excitement is building at Lindores Abbey as it releases its first whisky, the 1494.

Excitement is building at Lindores Abbey as it prepares to release its first whisky, named 1494 in homage to its past

A journey that began 20 years ago for Drew McKenzie-Smith reaches an end and a new beginning with the release of 1494, the first-ever whisky from Lindores Abbey Distillery.

And if images revealed of the 1494 members’ release are an indication of what’s inside, people who have signed up to receive the limited edition bottling are in for a treat.

Drawing on the history of Lindores Abbey, the dramatic black colour takes inspiration from the tunics worn by the monks back in 1494, while the unique shape pays homage to the Abbey’s magnificent stone pillars.

The bottle is displayed on a wooden plinth made using repurposed dunnage wood, which the spirit has rested on for more than three years as it matured.

The plinth bears the unique numbers of the 1,494 members who will receive their bottles this month.

The decision to call it 1494 comes from investigations that revealed distilling was being practised on a semi-industrial scale back then when: “To Brother John Cor, by order of the King, to make aqua vitae VIII bolls of malt”.

Eight bolls amount to almost 500kg of malt and would have been enough to make 350 litres or more of spirits.

Although the reference doesn’t say where Brother John Cor was distilling, as he appears to have been a Tironesian monk of Lindores Abbey, it is a connection that can be made.

Managing director Drew McKenzie-Smith is excited to see more than two decades of work finally come to fruition with the members’ release.

“It really, really has been an amazing journey. For me that journey began 20-plus years ago when I first read about the link between Lindores and Friar John Cor,” he said.

“When I look back at old correspondence, really what I was trying to do then was build a wee museum in the Abbey ruins and it just kind of snowballed.

“It’s been 20 years, but there have been gaps in between when I said it’s not happening, we just need to get on with our day jobs.

“However, about six or seven years ago, a friend in the industry said there are new distilleries opening up all over the place, one place he felt there should be one is at Lindores and that got me off my backside to give it another go.

“This time was the right time and it hit people’s imagination. To move that forward to physically now having a distillery, a bottling hall and we are putting liquid in the bottles is great.

“It’s the end of part of the journey and the beginning of the next, I suppose.”

The team at Lindores worked hard to get the release out to their members on the continent at the end of March and in early April.

“We have had a series of tasting panels,” continued Drew.

“We have a sensory panel which we set up right at the start of this project. I’m on it, but I wasn’t guaranteed to get a place on the panel because I don’t profess to be a huge expert, but I was rather chuffed when I did get a place.”

Considering that a number of members may not actually open the bottle, Drew has come up with an idea to ensure that everyone can enjoy the first release.

“I am aware that a lot of people join because they are a collector or an investor. I really want people to drink it and as a result, I decided not that long ago in the process to put a free miniature in with the packaging,” he revealed. “It says: ‘Please open his dram and enjoy. Slainte! Drew’.”

Extremely proud of the 1494, Drew says there was a discussion about bringing out other spirits, but he believes being patient and releasing a whisky first was the correct strategy.”

With Covid restrictions beginning to ease, the team at Lindores is looking forward to welcoming visitors back.

“We are lucky in that we are a distillery that also has a big visitor centre and, more importantly, the abbey itself and a lot of outdoor space.”

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