To celebrate the opening of the Benbecula Distillery, and the creation of our historic new whisky, we are offering an exclusive limited edition cask release for 2024, giving you the opportunity to invest in the first ever whisky produced in Benbecula.
Casks will be available for online purchase from 8am on Monday August 5th 2024.
Demand is expected to be high – so do not delay !!
Welcome to Benbecula Distillery, where this summer
the spirit flows from handmade stills on the Uists
for the very first time.
Our new multi-million pound distillery is on
the north of the island, where visitors can
savour the beautiful and uninterrupted views of
pale blue sea where the causeway crosses
into North Uist.
It is a stunning island paradise we are
proud to call home.
Welcome to Benbecula Distillery, where this summer the spirit flows from handmade stills on the Uists for the very first time.
Our new multi-million pound distillery is on the north of the island, where visitors can savour the beautiful and uninterrupted views of pale blue sea where the causeway crosses into North Uist.
It is a stunning island paradise we are proud to call home.
Benbecula Distillery is the realisation of a
long-held dream for local businessman
and crofter Angus MacMillan.
Angus has spent his life at the heart of this close-knit
Outer Hebridean community, where his family have
lived for generations.
He was one of the founding directors responsible
for South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula’s historic
community buyout in 2006.
Angus’s entrepreneurial acumen has been
the driving force behind the distillery
you see today.
Benbecula Distillery is the realisation of a long-held dream for local businessman and crofter Angus MacMillan.
Angus has spent his life at the heart of this close-knit Outer Hebridean community, where his family have lived for generations.
He was one of the founding directors responsible for South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula’s historic community buyout in 2006.
Angus’s entrepreneurial acumen has been the driving force behind the distillery you see today.
There are few places in the world more beautiful
than the island of Benbecula, lying between the
Hebridean islands of North and South Uist.
The island’s new distillery –
previously a salmon processing plant
– makes full use of this spectacular view.
A glass-walled extension in the form of
a lighthouse has been added to the building,
echoing the Stevenson Lighthouse on
the nearby Monach Islands.
It not only houses the distillery’s
handmade copper pot still but also commands
wondrous views of a wild, rolling landscape that
will captivate visitors to this new tourist landmark.
There are few places in the world more beautiful than the island of Benbecula, lying between the Hebridean islands of North and South Uist.
The island’s new distillery – previously a salmon processing plant – makes full use of this spectacular view.
A glass-walled extension in the form of a lighthouse has been added to the building, echoing the Stevenson Lighthouse on the nearby Monach Islands.
It not only houses the distillery’s handmade copper pot still but also commands wondrous views of a wild, rolling landscape that will captivate visitors to this new tourist landmark.
Born and raised in South Uist, Angus MacMillan has dedicated his career to fostering economic growth and sustainable development in the Outer Hebrides. With a rich history as the former owner of West Minch Salmon Farm, where he led operations for 28 years, Angus has also worked in several international private companies, demonstrating his extensive expertise and leadership in the industry.
As the founder of Benbecula Distillery, he is committed to driving economic development in the Outer Hebrides, creating opportunities that will benefit the region for generations to come. His vision includes showcasing the real potential for young families to live and work in the Outer Hebrides, promoting a vibrant and thriving drinks industry throughout Scotland.
At the helm of Benbecula Distillery’s whisky creation is Master Distiller Brendan McCarron.
One of the most respected names in modern distilling, Brendan’s career spans more than 20 years.
Previous high-profile roles include working as head of maturing whisky stocks at the Glenmorangie Company, and as manager at Oban Distillery and master distiller with Distell, whose brands include Bunnahabhain, Deanston and Tobermory.
Brendan is a true whisky lover. He enjoys nothing more than being in the distillery and seeing the spirit run off the still.
Hector MacLeod, a native of Benbecula, brings over a decade of experience in CEO positions within the third sector to his new role in the distillery industry. Having previously worked alongside Angus for 15 years in his former business ventures, Hector is well-prepared to take on the responsibilities of administration, HR, and finance at Benbecula Distillery.
Hector is enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of Benbecula. From his office window, Hector can see his grandfather‘s house, a reminder of his deep roots and his commitment to supporting the area’s prosperity and development for future generations.
Kenny MacLean joined Benbecula Distillery in 2024, bringing with him a wealth of experience from a seven-year tenure at Harris Distillery. With a strong background in facilities management and the tech sector, including roles with companies like BT, Kenny is well-equipped to oversee the distillery’s operations.
As the production manager, Kenny is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the distillery, ensuring quality control, and managing overall production. Hailing from the Isle of Harris (we don‘t hold that against him), Kenny’s expertise and dedication are instrumental in driving the distillery’s success and maintaining the highest standards in every aspect of production.
Graham MacLeod, born and raised in Iochdar, South Uist, brings a variety of experience as well as local pride to his role as a distiller. Before joining the distillery, Graham owned a driving school in Glasgow for nine years. Driven by his ambition to return to his roots, Graham has moved back to Uist to contribute to the distillery’s success.
In his spare time, he enjoys football and running, although his sporting allegiances are nothing to shout about currently, by his own admission. His return to South Uist embodies his commitment to the local community and his desire to be part of its economic development.
Billy Irving, a piper from Campbeltown, has whisky running through his veins. Now living in South Uist with his young family, Billy felt a calling when he learned about the potential of a new Benbecula Distillery. He knew he had to play his part in creating this exciting legacy for the islands.
As a distiller, Billy brings his passion for whisky to the role, contributing to the creation of a distinctive product that reflects the spirit of the Hebrides. His dedication and enthusiasm are vital to the distillery’s mission, ensuring that each bottle captures the essence of Benbecula and its vibrant community.
Jessica Thomson is a chartered chemical engineer from South Uist. She attended Sgoil Lionacleit and left home at 17 to study at the University of Strathclyde. After living in Glasgow for many years, she returned to Uist last year with her husband and three young children.
As a self-employed engineer, Jessica is contracted by Allen Associates to work on the processing equipment for Benbecula Distillery. The local nature of the project has allowed her to be on-site, witnessing the distillery come to life. It has been fantastic for Jessica to undertake the commissioning of a project that will make a meaningful difference to her local community.
Kayleigh MacVicar, from Locheport in North Uist, has been an integral part of the Benbecula Distillery team from the very beginning. She brings with her extensive experience in transportation and logistics, which will be invaluable to the distillery’s operations.
Grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a groundbreaking project, Kayleigh finds immense joy and fulfilment in her work as a distiller. Being part of making history and coming to a job she loves every day has been an incredible experience for her.
To create the whisky of the future, Benbecula
will revisit traditional techniques not seen
in distilling in Scotland for hundreds of years.
They are closely related to Angus MacMillan’s
own family heritage, and the barley
planted on their croft for generations.
Called Bere barley, it has been grown on Uist for centuries.
To Angus, the croft plays a central role
in the planning and conception of the
future Benbecula Single Malt,
with Bere as its core building block.
The Bere barley grows on soil enriched with seaweed
collected from nearby beaches.
The harvested grain is then transferred
from the croft to the malting floors.
The first Bere barley harvest has already
been gathered and stored by Angus himself
and will make its way into the mix
as distillation begins.
This agricultural link between family croft
and distillery is extremely rare
in Scotch whisky production.
It guarantees the spirit created has
an utterly unique, and very distinct character.
To create the whisky of the future, Benbecula will revisit traditional techniques not seen in distilling in Scotland for hundreds of years.
They are closely related to Angus MacMillan’s own family heritage, and the barley planted on their croft for generations.
Called Bere barley, it has been grown on Uist for centuries.
To Angus, the croft plays a central role in the planning and conception of the future Benbecula Single Malt, with Bere as its core building block.
The Bere barley grows on soil enriched with seaweed collected from nearby beaches. The harvested grain is then transferred from the croft to the malting floors.
The first Bere barley harvest has already been gathered and stored by Angus himself and will make its way into the mix as distillation begins.
This agricultural link between family croft and distillery is extremely rare in Scotch whisky production.
It guarantees the spirit created has an utterly unique, and very distinct character.
The team at Benbecula will revive the ancient
and historic tradition of adding
foraged island heather to their peat fires
for kilning the bere barley.
This malting process creates a smooth,
gentle smokiness and sweet,
floral character to the spirit.
This ancient technique will be coupled
with a unique design and distilling process,
which will use low carbon technologies in its
whisky production to minimise
its impact on the environment.
The team at Benbecula will revive the ancient and historic tradition of adding foraged island heather to their peat fires for kilning the bere barley.
This malting process creates a smooth, gentle smokiness and sweet, floral character to the spirit.
This ancient technique will be coupled with a unique design and distilling process, which will use low carbon technologies in its whisky production to minimise its impact on the environment.
Around 350,000 litres of whisky will be produced
at Benbecula Distillery annually, with bourbon and
sherry casks being used in the maturation.
The spirit produced at Benbecula Distillery
will be classically marine in style, smoky on
the nose with salty and sweetly peated notes.
This will be achieved using light to medium peated
malted barley, so that the smoke does not dominate,
and allows fruity and floral notes to shine through.
Each year a special batch of heather peated
bere barley will be produced – a process that
is both innovative and inspired by
traditions of the island.
Benbecula’s unique malting process
was first noted by famous 19th century whisky
historian Alfred Barnard during his tour
of Scottish distilleries in 1885.
Around 350,000 litres of whisky will be produced at Benbecula Distillery annually, with bourbon and sherry casks being used in the maturation.
The spirit produced at Benbecula Distillery will be classically marine in style, smoky on the nose with salty and sweetly peated notes. This will be achieved using light to medium peated malted barley, so that the smoke does not dominate, and allows fruity and floral notes to shine through.
Each year a special batch of heather peated bere barley will be produced – a process that is both innovative and inspired by traditions of the island.
Benbecula’s unique malting process was first noted by famous 19th century whisky historian Alfred Barnard during his tour of Scottish distilleries in 1885.
The Benbecula 2024 Society
We want everyone to enjoy a taste of The Spirit of the Hebrides
and this is your chance to do so. We have formed
The Benbecula 2024 Society allowing whisky lovers
across the globe to be involved in our distillery’s journey.
The Benbecula 2024 Society is open to all. For a one-off membership fee
of £289, you will receive the following benefits:
• Two bottles of the inaugural release (one to keep and one to drink)
• A small Dramtubes sample of our new-make spirit, allowing you to taste
the wonderful base from which our whisky will mature
• Unique membership challenge coin
• A personalised membership card
• 5% off all products available at the distillery
and online (excluding casks)
• A free distillery tour for the member
and a guest (post-visitor centre opening Autumn 2024)
• The opportunity to acquire exclusive membership-only
bottlings. These will be released at cask strength.
• Quarterly newsletter
TO JOIN OR GIFT A MEMBERSHIP TO
THE BENBECULA 2024 SOCIETY
The Benbecula 2024 Society
We want everyone to enjoy a taste of The Spirit of the Hebrides and this is your chance to do so. We have formed The Benbecula 2024 Society allowing whisky lovers across the globe to be involved in our distillery’s journey.
The Benbecula 2024 Society is open to all. For a one-off membership fee of £289, you will receive the following benefits:
• Two bottles of the inaugural release (one to keep and one to drink)
• A small Dramtubes sample of our new-make spirit, allowing you to taste the wonderful base from which our whisky will mature
• Unique membership challenge coin
• A personalised membership card
• 5% off all products available at the distillery and online (excluding casks)
• A free distillery tour for the member and a guest (post-visitor centre opening Autumn 2024)
• The opportunity to acquire exclusive membership-only bottlings. These will be released at cask strength.
• Quarterly newsletter
TO JOIN OR GIFT A MEMBERSHIP TO
THE BENBECULA 2024 SOCIETY
The Benbecula Comunn
We will contact you to complete your ownership journey of this unique opportunity.
To celebrate our opening we are offering the opportunity to purchase one of only 150 casks of our inaugural release single malt spirit*. Each 250L first-fill ex-Pedro Ximénez or Oloroso sherry cask will be filled in August 2024 and at 63.5% ABV.
Ex-Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks – Price £8000
Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks – Price £7500
The names of our first 150 cask buyers will be recorded on the distillery walls, cementing each Comunn member’s place in island history for all time.
Additional benefits of membership include:
• Seven years’ storage in our bonded warehouse
• Insurance cover for a seven-year period
• A specially bottled 25ml sample of our new-make spirit, allowing you to taste the wonderful base from which our whisky will mature
• A bottle of Benbecula Distillery’s own inaugural release, signed by Angus MacMillan (distillery owner)
• Founding Member’s cask certificate and unique membership challenge coin for the Benbecula Comunn
• Free distillery tours for life, including a guest of the cask owner (post-visitor centre opening Autumn 2024)
• 10% discount on all products purchased either online from the distillery or at distillery shop (excluding casks)
• Lunch at the distillery for the cask owner and a guest on their first distillery visit
• Access to limited and special release Benbecula Comunn members-only bottlings
• Quarterly newsletter
TO RECEIVE FULL DETAILS ON MEMBERSHIP OF THE BENBECULA COMUNN, INCLUDING OUR CASK BROCHURE AND FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR CASK PURCHASE
*CLICK HERE for full terms and conditions. £100 deposit is non-refundable. Balance to be paid within ten working days. Whisky, like most investments, can both rise and fall in value. Please be sure to explore all aspects of your potential investment carefully prior to purchase.
The Benbecula Comunn
We will contact you to complete your ownership journey of this unique opportunity.
To celebrate our opening we are offering the opportunity to purchase one of only 150 casks of our inaugural release single malt spirit*. Each 250L first-fill ex-Pedro Ximénez or Oloroso sherry cask will be filled in August 2024 and at 63.5% ABV.
Ex-Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks – Price £8000
Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks – Price £7500
The names of our first 150 cask buyers will be recorded on the distillery walls, cementing each Comunn member’s place in island history for all time.
Additional benefits of membership include:
• Seven years’ storage in our bonded warehouse
• Insurance cover for a seven-year period
• A specially bottled 25ml sample of our new-make spirit, allowing you to taste the wonderful base from which our whisky will mature
• A bottle of Benbecula Distillery’s own inaugural release, signed by Angus MacMillan (distillery owner)
• Founding Member’s cask certificate and unique membership challenge coin for the Benbecula Comunn
• Free distillery tours for life, including a guest of the cask owner (post-visitor centre opening Autumn 2024)
• 10% discount on all products purchased either online from the distillery or at distillery shop (excluding casks)
• Lunch at the distillery for the cask owner and a guest on their first distillery visit
• Access to limited and special release Benbecula Comunn members-only bottlings
• Quarterly newsletter
TO RECEIVE FULL DETAILS ON MEMBERSHIP OF THE BENBECULA COMUNN, INCLUDING OUR CASK BROCHURE AND FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR CASK PURCHASE
*CLICK HERE for full terms and conditions. £100 deposit is non-refundable. Balance to be paid within ten working days. Whisky, like most investments, can both rise and fall in value. Please be sure to explore all aspects of your potential investment carefully prior to purchase.
Tours of the distillery will be starting in Autumn 2024. To register interest please email info@benbeculadistillery.com
