North Uist Distillery has produced the first distillation of its new make spirit at Benbecula’s historic Nunton Steadings.
Co-founders Kate Macdonald and Jonny Ingledew have spent the past ten years working towards their dream of a carbon-neutral distillery, where this spirit has been produced and will be aged to maturity in carefully curated casks, showcasing the resilience, history, and distinct terroir of the Hebridean island.
The resultant whisky will be flavour-forward, making use of heritage barley, long fermentation and brewer’s yeast before distillation through squat stills designed to squeeze under the low roof of the B-listed distillery building.
Their downward facing lyne arms will capture more complex flavours which will be complemented by ex-bourbon, new oak, and olorosso-seasoned casks, producing a whisky of complexity and depth that tells the story of life on the remote Hebridean island.
“Distilling whisky here is about more than just the spirit in the cask — it’s about honouring the past while supporting the future of our islands,” said Jonny Ingledew.
“By using bere barley grown on Uist’s machair, we’re investing in a resilient crop that has evolved with our unique environment over hundreds of years. It’s a true taste of Uist and Benbecula and of the past, present and future we want for our community.”
At the heart of this revival is bere barley, a heritage crop that has thrived in the high-pH soils of the Outer Hebrides for centuries. Resilient and rich in character, bere barley is perfectly adapted to the island’s challenging climate, making it an ideal grain for North Uist Distillery’s field-to-cask production.
The grain is sourced from local crofters who employ traditional methods like seaweed fertilisation, creating a sustainable supply chain and supporting the islands’ agricultural heritage. Once Scotland’s primary barley, bere has recently been embraced for its unique flavour, offering whisky lovers a singular taste of the region’s history and environment.
The distillery operates within the beautifully restored 18th-century Nunton Steadings, acquired by Kate and Jonny in 2020 as part of their commitment to bringing new industry and employment to the islands of Uist and Benbecula.
Set near Culla Bay beach, the Downpour Shop and tasting room has already become a popular destination for both residents and visitors, drawing over 60,000 visitors since it opened.
North Uist Distillery is one of only 65 B-Corp businesses in Scotland - a certification of balancing people, the planet and profit. The carbon-neutral distillery is reintroducing bere barley and producing whisky locally in an environmentally sensitive manner whilst continuing to strengthen its bond with the community and celebrate the spirit of island life.
Kate Macdonald said: “We want to produce amazing whisky that honours and protects the land it comes from. That’s why our long-term goal is to have grain-to-glass whisky production using heritage bere barley, grown, malted, distilled and bottled at our historic home at Nunton Steadings. This first distillation is another important step towards that ambition.”
Whisky distillation is being led by distillery manager and head distiller Jacob Crisp who will be producing just one cask per day, with each precious drop representing a labour of love that embodies the essence of the Outer Hebridean archipelago — its past, present, and sustainable future. In just a few years, the first sip of Nunton-made whisky will toast a new era for the island, celebrated in the same building where islanders once worked and where their ancestors once gathered.
Ancient crop at the heart of plans for new Uist whisky
2 December 2024