13/05/2026
A fun whisky story this week with the discovery of a 200 year old smuggler’s whisky distillery hiding on Ben Lawers, a mountain, in the Highlands.
They’ve discovered the remains of a stone bothy and, very unusually, part of the copper still used to make the whisky.
The illicit whisky trade was booming in the late 18th century following the 1788 Excise Act, which banned the use of small household stills, and led to a cat and mouse game between illegal distillers and excise officers across the Highlands.
I love the romance, and rebellious aspect, to these early whisky stories. In my mind far more compelling than the slick branding and marketing of today’s whisky world.
The whisky is probably more likely to blind you, but definitely more romantic.
