Uilebheist

SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > U

Uilebheist owner, Jon Erasmus, said: “The very foundations of this project were born from Scottish myth and legend. We wanted to create something unique to the area, with the distillery, and brewery both powered by the famous River Ness.

"All water used in the processes will also be sourced from the river, meaning that when you drink Uilebheist’s liquid, you really are tasting the Highlands.

“Creating both beer and whisky simultaneously will allow us to offer an immediate product and whilst we wait for the whisky to reach maturity, there will be an opportunity to own one of a limited number of casks of the Uilebheist Single Malt Whisky distilled in the first year of production, through our cask programme.

“Alongside exceptional beer and whisky, we aim to raise the bar when it comes to visitor experiences and hope that the project will lead the way for Scotland’s hospitality sector in the area. The centre will offer a range of tours and experiences ranging from site tours and sampling of our core whisky and craft beer products through to detailed master classes, blending workshops and food pairing menus.”

Revised plans have been revealed to create a “unique” micro whisky distillery for Inverness after a city centre hotel changed its mind about developing a microbrewery.

Development has started on site at the Glen Mhor Hotel in Ness Bank after Highland Council approved plans to create a craft microbrewery.

But the hotel has now lodged a new application seeking a change of use from the previously-approved project.

Sustainable Scotland: Ness is more for eco-friendly new craft whisky and beer

Legend has it that Saint Columba, during a visit to Scotland in the sixth century, banished a “water monster” to the depths of Loch Ness after he saw it attack a disciple who was swimming in the adjoining river

Thursday, 29th September 2022, 4:55 am

And so began the mythology of Nessie the Loch Ness Monster, which has continued to capture the public imagination ever since that first ‘sighting’ nearly 1,500 years ago.

The ancient creature is one of the inspirations behind a new £6 million low-carbon boutique whisky distillery, brewery and visitor attraction in inverness, set up by Jon and Victoria Erasmus.

Named Uilebheist, Gaelic for monster, it is the first new distillery to be built in the Highland capital for 130 years.

Now the all-important equipment which will be used to create the drinks – including a signature single malt and a range of beers – has just arrived on site.

The first whisky will be created in December, if all goes to plan, with at least three years before the earliest bottles will be available for drinking.

Beers are expected to be on sale early next year.

The whisky will be made with locally grown malted barley and Uilebheist’s own brewer’s yeast, then matured in former bourbon and sherry casks

Victoria Erasmus, co-owner and sustainability boss at the new Uilebheist distillery and brewery in Inverness, has just taken delivery of all the equipment which will be used to create the firm's "unique" whiskies and beers. Picture: Paul Campbell

It will have a natural colour and will not be chill-filtered.

Sustainable Scotland: Green 'monster' whisky distillery and brewery sets up home...

Master brewer and distiller Bruce Smith has revealed the flavour profile he’s aiming to achieve – butterscotch, candied citrus peel, raisins and sultanas, delicate wood spices and vanilla – but says the final spirit will be “unique”.

“Uilebheist will breathe new life into the tales that have captivated and enthralled mankind ever since we first sat around the fire in caves,” he said.

“Uilebheist will breathe new life into the tales that have captivated and enthralled mankind ever since we first sat around the fire in caves,” says master brewer and distiller Bruce Smith. “The whisky will let us know when it’s ready and we have no intention to rush it." Picture: Paul Campbell

“The whisky will let us know when it’s ready and we have no intention to rush it.

“We will be creating a unique spirit which will be defined and influenced by different factors including our yeast strain, still design and cask selection.

“Being a small-batch craft distiller, every step of the process will be meticulously managed to ensure every drop of Uilebheist Single Malt is worth the wait.”

Sited on the banks of the Ness, the distillery’s power and all water used in creation of the beverages will come from the river.

It has its own dedicated sustainability centre, which houses heat pumps that provide heating and hot water for the distillery and the neighbouring Glen Mhor Hotel complex, which is also owned by the Erasmus family.

The business has just scooped a gold Green Tourism award.

Co-owner and sustainability boss Victoria Erasmus, said: “We are very proud of our Highland heritage and want to ensure that it remains beautiful for years to come.

“Our distillery is almost entirely powered by solar power and by water from boreholes from the banks of the River Ness, via our unique on-site sustainability centre, which is completely separate from the gas grid.

“This means that we save over 250 tonnes of carbon each year and take significant steps towards being net zero.

“We take our role and responsibility towards sustainable tourism seriously as we look to address the climate emergency we are all facing.

“Developing our climate action plan allowed us to address our part in supporting our local environment and futureproof our business going forward, placing sustainability at its core of every development.”

Uilebheist will offer a range of experiences for visitors, ranging from site tours and sampling of core whisky and craft beer products through to master classes, blending workshops and food-pairing menus.

The firm is also offering a special one-off opportunity for whisky fans to snap up their own cask of the first ever Uilebheist malt

You might have noticed an increase in whisky news from us lately, and it’s just the beginning as we make strides into what is going to to be a very big year for us here at the distillery. While we await the start of construction works at Nunton, Jonny is just back from an educational jaunt to another beautiful Hebridean island, where he was learning some tricks of the trade from our friends at the fantastic Kilchoman Distillery in Islay.

Kilchoman is one of the few Scottish whisky distilleries producing field to bottle whiskies, with barley grown and traditionally floor malted on the island. It was fantastic to learn from such skilled distillers and get some insights into the process that will be the backbone of our own Nunton Whisky.