Isle of Barra Distillers breaks ground on Scotland’s most westerly distillery

Katie and Michael Morrison

Construction has officially started on Isle of Barra Distillers new distillery in Castlebay on the Isle of Barra.

The £12 million distillery project is claimed to be the largest single private investment ever made on the Outer Hebrides island, and promises to bring major benefits to its economy and community.

Barra natives, husband and wife Katie and Michael Morrison, founded the original distillery in 2017 with the aim of creating a future on the island for their family for generations to come.

They currently produce Atlantic Gin, Hebridean Vodka and Island Dark rum, but their ambition is to bring whisky production back to the island. Having reached the limits of the existing gin distillery site, Katie and Michael started the planning process for a new distillery back in 2021.

Michael said: “It’s incredibly exciting to see this project finally come to life and to be able to share this moment with our family and the people of Barra. This moment has been a long time coming and we’re all excited to be closing out the year on such a high note.

“It feels especially significant as 2024 has been so positive for the business – we’ve secured new listings in major supermarkets around the UK, brought in five new members to the team and opened an office over on the mainland.

A computer-generated image of the new distillery as planned.

“We see this project as more than just a development,” stressed Morrison. “It’s a transformative step for our island community. We’ve always believed in the far-reaching benefits it will bring to the community and that belief is stronger than ever. And this project showcases how small, remote communities can make bold moves to establish themselves on the global stage.

“None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our stakeholders, the creativity and expertise of the team behind the build, and, most importantly, the loyalty of our incredible customers.

“A special mention must also go to our extraordinary team at Isle of Barra Distillers. Their passion, hard work, and belief in our vision have driven us forward every single day. To see how far we’ve come this year is no surprise when you have a team like ours behind it all.”

The investment in the family distillery will bring a number of new jobs to the island and will support local tourism through a new visitor centre, retail unit and cafe, contributing towards economic growth and community development in the region.

The first phase of the construction is in the hands of Hebridean firm MacInnes Bros Ltd, ‘to ensure the development will be carried out with a commitment to quality, efficiency, and sensitivity to the island’s unique environment’.

The distillery is scheduled to open in October 2026 with production starting shortly after.

Michael and Katie Morrison’s three children, Michael (6), Ada (4) and Ruaridh (2) standing at the new distillery site