Abhainn Dearg
Lewis' only legal distillery.
Stornoway distillery
Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Stornoway was one of the few legal distilleries ever to exist on the Isle of Lewis.
This distillery dearth may be attributable to a lack of local barley but also to the firm grip the church had on island life for much of its history. Strong drink, and indeed drinking generally, was frowned upon by the clergy.
The distillery sat east of Stornoway’s Bayhead River just where the Allt Nam Brog burn flowed into it.
Stornoway History
The distillery was built between 1825-28 by JA Stewart Mackenzie of Seaforth, and was licensed to the Stornoway Distillery Co. from 1832-37.
After construction began on Lewis Castle in 1844 the distillery was demolished, and the castle’s stables built on the site. Today the castle is a college and the stables, or later buildings, a woodlands centre.
Timeline
- 1832 Stornoway is licensed to the Stornoway Distillery Co.
- 1837 The distillery is closed
- 1844 Lewis Castle is built, and its stables erected at the site of Stornoway distillery
Contact
- Address
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Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
Western Isles
United Kingdom
Map
See also
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Distillery & brand
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Distiller
Isle of Harris Distillers
The holding company created to build and operate Isle of Harris distillery.
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Distiller & blender
Isle of Arran Distillers
Independent distilling operation, with two distilleries, located on the Isle of Arran.