| Abhainn Dearg distillery | |
| Type: | Island |
| Image Size: | 250 |
| Location: | Uig, Isle of Lewis |
| Coordinates: | 58.1708°N -7.0447°W |
| Founded: | 2008 [1] |
| Brand 1: | Abhainn Dearg |
| Type 1: | Single malt, Scotch |
| Age 1: | newmake spirit, 3 years |
| Cask 1: | American White Oak, Ex-Bourbon Casks (Main) Ex Sherry Casks |
| Abv 1: | 46%, 56%, 58% |
Abhainn Dearg distillery or Red River distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery in Uig, on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.[2] It is the most westerly distillery in Scotland. The name is Scottish Gaelic for "Red River" which itself takes its name from a bloody skirmish in the dark ages when local people won a battle against Viking marauders.[2]
Under the ownership of Mark Tayburn, the distillery commenced production in September 2008.[2] The distillery was built in a former salmon hatchery (and some of the pens are still in use producing fish).[2] The still house is a new building and incorporates titled still heads in an unusual design modelled on former illicit stills in the area[2] The distillery uses water from nearby Loch Raonasgail via the Abhainn Dearg.[2]
The first whisky was released in 2011 and was named the "Spirit of Lewis".[2]
A 40% abv new make spirit aged for a few months on sherry oak casks.
Matured in Sherry hogshead cask for three months and bottled at natural strength 56%.
Matured in Bourbon casks and bottled at 46% with just 3 years old. A limited edition inaugural release of 2,011 bottles.
Miniature bottling of the 3 year old Scotch matured in a Bourbon barrel and bottled at natural strength 58%.
Matured in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46% ABV it is the oldest whisky to be produced by a legal distillery in the Outer Hebrides.