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Whisky Year Zero

Norrie Newsdesk

Leading historians and whisky aficionados welcome new ‘Whisky Year Zero’ commemoration to mark 200th anniversary of act that ‘laid the foundations for the Scotch whisky industry’ and the ‘Whisky Capital of the World’

The Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative has today (18 July 2023) launched a new Whisky Year Zero commemoration to mark the 200th anniversary of the 1823 Excise Act, which was published on 18 July 1823. The act, which sanctioned the distilling of whisky in return for a licence fee, played a key role in shaping Argyll and the Isles as Scotland’s Whisky Coast – an area which encompasses four of Scotland’s recognised whisky regions – Campbeltown, Islay, Highlands (Oban and Loch Lomond) and Islands (Jura and Tobermory).

Recognising the significance of the year, particularly to Argyll’s one-time ‘Whisky Capital of the World’, Whisky Year Zero celebrates the destination’s distinct whisky heritage by showcasing the wide range of sites, festivals and experiences whisky lovers can experience in Argyll and the Isles from July 2023 to June 2024. This includes brand new distillery openings, such as the reopening of the historic Port Ellen Distillery on Islay, more than 35 years after it was closed and almost 200 years since it first opened in 1824 as one of the first distilleries to be licensed after the 1823 Excise Act.

The commemoration is today being welcomed by leading historians and whisky aficionados, including Pro Vice Principal at the University of Glasgow Bradley Professor Murray Pittock; Master of the Quaich (the whisky industry’s highest accolade) author Dr Nick Morgan; fellow Master of the Quaich acclaimed whisky writer Charles MacLean; and founder of World Whisky Day consultant Blair Bowman.

 Launching the commemoration Cathy Craig, CEO of the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative said: “We’re delighted to launch Whisky Year Zero to celebrate the rich whisky, or uisge beatha, heritage that has shaped communities and culture throughout Argyll and the Isles.

Known as Scotland’s Whisky Coast due the high volume of world-class distilleries dotted along our coastline, there are so many ways in which visitors to the area can learn more about our significant whisky history and why our destination, with its abundance of fertile landscapes, produces some of Scotland’s finest food and drink.


Explaining the importance of the commemoration, Professor Murray Pittock, Bradley Professor and Pro Vice Principal at the University of Glasgow said:

Understanding our past gives us confidence in our ability to shape the future, so it is vital that we continue to remember key historical moments. Commemorations like Argyll & the Isles’ Whisky Year Zero, that take the time to bring history to life, can play a central role in addressing this.

Throughout Whisky Year Zero, Glen Scotia, one of three distilleries remaining in Campbeltown, is offering immersive whisky experiences that take visitors behind the scenes and back in time, to discover more the history of their whisky, including how the Excise Act led to their hometown town being proclaimed the one-time Whisky Capital of the World.

Hannah Young, Visitor Centre Manager at Glen Scotia said:

Our historical distillery still maintains much of its original design dating from the 1830s, including our Dunnage Warehouse, so our celebrated heritage and history still influence the award-winning whisky produced here. The 1823 Excise Act played a key role in our formation and those who come on one of our distillery tours can learn all about the impact it made on our town.


Explaining the significance of the act on Argyll and the Isles, renowned Whisky Writer and Master of the Quaich Charles Maclean said:

The 1823 Excise Act laid the foundations for the Scotch whisky industry by fixing the method of Scotch whisky distillation as we know it today. The Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative is to be congratulated for celebrating this significant piece of legislation, which made it possible for Campbeltown to become ’the world whisky capital’ in the late 19th Century and for Islay to become the world’s leading pilgrimage destination for whisky lovers today. Before the Act, distilling in the region was mainly illicit; today it is burgeoning.


Professor Pittock added:

The 1823 Excise or Wash Act led to a boom in the whisky industry. Local businesspeople and landowners saw vast opportunities in the market, and in Campbeltown developments supported by the Duke of Argyll saw the creation of some 30 distilleries in a town of around three thousand people - it was certainly, as it proclaimed, 'the Whisky Capital of the World' in per capita terms at least.


Reinforcing the scale of industry growth at that time, Dr Nick Morgan, Master of the Quaich, whisky aficionado and author of the book Everything You Need to Know About Whisky (but are too afraid to ask) said:

In 1821 there were eleven licensed distilleries in Argyll producing around 40,000 gallons of whisky a year. Only one, owned by John Beith, was in Campbeltown. By 1826, three years after the passing of the 1823 Excise Act, there were thirty-four distilleries in Argyll producing some two-hundred thousand gallons a year.


Though there are less distilleries than there once was in the area, whisky and now gin production is still a significant industry across Argyll and the Isles, as Whisky Year Zero highlights.

 The commemoration showcases 14 world-class whisky distilleries, a myriad of whisky experiences, festivals and distillery openings across the destination.

Welcoming the celebration and explaining why Argyll and the Isles is such an important whisky destination, whisky enthusiast, founder of World Whisky Day and author of The Pocket Guide to Whisky, Blair Bowman said:

Uniquely for a Scottish destination, Argyll and the Isles encompasses four of Scotland’s recognised whisky regions, earning it the title of Scotland’s Whisky Coast. During Whisky Year Zero, I would encourage all visitors to celebrate by going on a distillery-hoping journey of discovery across Argyll and the Isles to explore the real impact Scotland’s iconic uisge beatha or ‘water of life’ has had on culture and communities in the area, and what makes each of the whisky regions different.

There is also something quite extraordinary about drinking a whisky in the same places where the whisky was made. It really enhances the experience. Each whisky is very unique, their flavours tell an important part of history too.

Whisky is quite literally known in Scottish Gaelic as the Water of Life, uisge beatha, which is very apt. There is something magical about each and every sip. When you pick up a glass from Argyll and the Isles, you’re not just picking up a drink, you’re picking up a story of Scottish life too. It tells you story of history, a story of culture and a story of craftmanship – from the farmers producing barley to the unique distillation processes.


Emma Clark AITC Vice Chair, official Argyll & the Isles Food & Drink Ambassador and owner of Glenegedale Guesthouse on Islay (where they serve food platters on top of a reclaimed whisky barrel and even give guests the opportunity to enjoy local whisky in their porridge) agreed:

With our rich fertile lands and world-leading producers, we make and supply some of the very best food and drink, including whisky, right here in Argyll and the Isles. Whisky Year Zero provides the perfect excuse for visitors to go on a culinary journey of discovery to responsibly enjoy our sensational local produce, our unique land and waters, tantalising food trails, world class distilleries and vast amount of award-winning eateries to suit all tastes.


To find out more about Whisky Year Zero visit: wildaboutargyll.co.uk/whisky-year-zero

Whisky Year Zero Distillery hopping

Single-malt Scotch whisky is special. Special in provenance, heritage, production and taste. Made by a unique process of distillation and maturation, only whisky distilled in Scotland can claim the exclusive title of Scotch. And with four whisky regions – including the world-renowned island of Islay – there’s no better destination for Scotch whisky than the Highlands and Islands of Argyll, Scotland’s Whisky Coast. The Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative is recommending a distillery hopping adventure during Whisky Year Zero:

  • Starting off at Oban Distillery: Oban Distillery, perched on the picturesque harbour, is one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries. It’s nice and close to Oban Whisky & Fine Wines Shop which has a huge range of single malts, including some rare and collectable whiskies. 

  • Then doing a little Hebridean island-hopping taking the ferry to Mull to visit Tobermory Distillery. This artisan distillery produces both whisky and gin and offers tours, tasting experiences and a shop offering distillery-exclusive lines.

  • For many, the ultimate whisky experience is a trip to Islay. This tiny wee island boasts nine working distilleries, producing whiskies that truly reflect their environment with a characteristic peaty flavour and a hint of salty air and seaweed. All the distilleries offer tours and each offer something unique. Kilchoman and Ardnahoe are the newest distilleries while Bowmore is thought to be one of the oldest in Scotland, notable for malting its own barley. At Caol Ila, visitors can see large-scale production, while Bruichladdich is refurbished in the old Victorian style. Ardbeg produces one of the peatiest flavours while Bunnahabhain produces a milder, unpeated whisky. Lagavulin produces one of Scotland’s most famous whiskies while Laphroaig is the bestselling whisky on Islay.

  • No tour of the region would be complete without a trip to Campbeltown. Once the Whisky Capital of the World and home to 34 whisky distilleries - now just three remain. Springbank Distillery, which draws its water from Crosshill Loch, produces three signature malts. Visitors can tour Springbank Distillery (the only distillery in Scotland to complete the whole whisky-making process on site) and the nearby Kilkerran Distillery which opened in 2004 - the first distillery to open in Campbeltown for over 125 years. Glen Scotia Distillery uses small batch processing and retains much of its original design – including the mash sun, stillroom and dunnage warehouse. This distillery offers tours, warehouse tastings and a delightful Victorian-style shop.

Events

2023

  • Port Ellen Distillery on Islay will reopen in 2023, more than 35 years after it closed and almost 200 years since it first opened in 1824 as one of the first distilleries to be licensed after the 1823 Excise Act.

 September

November

December

  • Enjoy festive shopping weekends at each distillery – dates TBC. 


2024, May – Whisky Month

  • Campbeltown Malts Festival, (2023 dates TBC): glenscotia.com/pages/whisky-festival

  • Fèis Ìle (The Islay Festival). Last week of May (dates TBC): Distilleries on Islay will welcome visitors from around the world for a range of immersive tastings and experiences, live music, food trucks with local produce, and most importantly the launch of exclusive festival bottlings. feisile.co.uk

  • Jura Fèis Ìle Day (last week of May/beginning of June): a unique whisky experience, followed by live music in the Jura distillery. A few lucky visitors will also get the chance to sample the distillery’s exclusive Fèis Ìle Edition. https://www.jurawhisky.com/en/distillery/feis-ile-2023/

  • Explore The Best Whisky and Wildlife in Oban, Jura and Islay on a Stravaigin Sailing adventure on 5 May 2024. During their 6-night all inclusive Island Malt Whisky Tour, visitors will get the chance to visit and sample some fine classics. No sailing experience needed. For more information:  https://stravaigin.regiondo.com/whisky-and-wildlife-mull-islay-jura-7-days-2024

 

Dates to be confirmed in 2024

  • Whisky production at Elixir Distillers Portintruan Distillery, located just Port Ellen on Islay, will begin production in 2024. Portintruan, pronounced Port-nah-truan, takes its name from the historic farm estate where the distillery is located and means ‘place of the stream’. Portintruan will be where the past meets the future, combining old production techniques with modern technology to improve process and quality, and sustainability. Works are well underway on the distillery site.

  • The Machrihanish Distillery in Campbeltown is also expected to open in 2024.

About the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative

  • Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative Ltd (AITC) is the strategic Destination Management Organisation for Argyll & The Isles on the West Coast of Scotland.

  • AITC was formed in 2012 as a cooperative and offers direct membership to Argyll & Isles based businesses and community groups.

  • AITC is supported by VisitScotland, Argyll and Bute Council, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

  • Argyll & the Isles extends to 690,000 hectares and is the second largest area in Scotland, after the Highlands. It sits immediately to the west of the city of Glasgow and, as well as a vast mainland area with numerous peninsulas, the area encompasses 23 inhabited islands, each with their own identity and culture. 

  • The Argyll and the Isles coastline is over 3,700km long.

  • 80% of the region’s population live within 1km of the coast, 96.5% are within 10km of the coast and just over 17% live on islands.