It’s official for distillery

Niall Macalister Hall and Fergus Ewing

What’s claimed to be Scotland’s first hydro-powered distillery was officially opened by Fergus Ewing, cabinet secretary for the rural economy, last month.

The politician unveiled a plaque outside the distillery shop and tasting room at Beinn an Tuirc distillery, on Torrisdale Castle Estate in Kintyre.

Beinn an Tuirc, which means Hill of the Boar and takes its name from the highest point in Kintyre, uses spring water from Beinn an Tuirc, which also feeds the 100kw hydro-electric scheme that powers the 220l still.

Niall Macalister Hall, managing director of Beinn an Tuirc Distillers, which was established in 2016 and produced its first bottle of Kintyre Gin in July 2017, said: “We hope to build on this phenomenal first year of trading and have already started to export to foreign markets.

“Closer to home, our new tasting room has enabled us to offer distillery tours, which is encouraging more visitors to the area and helps to promote east Kintyre as a day trip destination for tourists.”