Secrets of the illicit whisky trade revealed
● Distiller and National Trust team up to uncover illegal past of nation’s top tipple
Scotland’s illicit whisky stills and hidden smugglers’ bothies are to be uncovered in a bid to tell the full story of the drink that has defined a nation for hundreds of years.
Glen li vet Distillery and National Trust for Scotland will bring together archive research and archaeological digs across Scotland to illuminate the nation’s illegal whisky making past in the new Pioneering Spirit project.
By the1820s, as many as 14,000 illicit stills were being confiscated ever y year, and more than half the whisky consumed in Scotland was being enjoyed without the taxman taking his cut.
Now evidence of this lucrative illegal trade is to be traced across the landscape.
It is thought the remains of at least 30 illegal stills lie on National Trust for Scotland land alone from Torridon and Kintail in the nor th to Grey Mare’ s Tail near M off at in the south and the Mar Lodge Estate in Deeside.
Glenlivet’s founder George Smith was among those who risked life and liberty to pro - duce illicit whisky at his farm at Upper Drummin. After the passing of the Excise Act in 1823, he was the first person in Scotland to apply for a licence to legally produce spirit. It is said the decision was wholly unpopular with other farmers making whisky on their land, with Smith given two pistols to protect his family and his new legal distillery.
MiriamEceolaza, global marketing director of The Glenlivet, said: “We are proud to be supporting the National Trust for Scotland and the amazing work they do to protect, and celebrate, what makes Scotland unique.
“As a brand that holds so much history in the distilling of Scotch whisky, we are looking forward to learning more about the illicit trade that our
founder was involved in, as well as the lasting impact it has had on the country’s rich heritage. We hope that through this partnership we can continue to educate and inspire whisky drinkers everywhere on the original story and taste of The Glenlivet.”
Derek Alexander, head of archaeology at National Trust for Scotland, said the project would help uncover the real stories behind Scotland’ s national drink and how the illegal trade shaped everything from trade to family life.
Mr Alexander said :“Our charity is always searching for new ways to tell Scotland’s stories and this project will help us shed light on a really fascinating era in Scotland’s history, which has shaped our culture and our landscapes too.
“With the goal of uncovering and sharing the stories behind Scotland’s illicit whisky industry, it’s only fitting we partner with a name that is so firmly part of this story.
“We’ re looking forward to working closely with The Glen li vet to carry out this ground-breaking conser vation project and uncovering new and interesting stories for everyone who loves Scotland.”
Interest in Scotland’ s illicit distilling history has grown in recent years. Last year an excavation was launched at Blackmiddens on the Moray and Aberdeenshire border in an area known as Cabrach where illegal distilling was rife.
Blackmiddens was producing litres of illegal alcohol during the 18th century, with tales of whisky being smuggled into Aberdeen in coffins by gangs of freebooters.
Lookouts would ride a white horse to alert distillers that the exciseman had entered the area, with barricades later set up around Aberdeen to stop the smugglers.