The Secrets of Ben Lomond: Rare Illegal Whisky Production Facility Discovered At Popular Scottish Tourist Site

Project Pioneering Spirit, the organization which consists of a partnership with The Glenlivet and the National Trust For Scotland, made the latest discovery of an illegal whisky bothy in its latest archaeological dig. (Photo: National Trust for Scotland)

A rare and illegal whisky production site was discovered in Ben Lomond, Scotland in late June, the Herald reported Monday. The discovery was made as a part of Project Pioneering Spirit, a partnership between archaeologists from the National Trust for Scotland and The Glenlivet Distillery.

Formed in 2020, Project Pioneering Spirit is an organization devoted to caring for Scotland’s heritage. Per its website, the organization cares for “ancient houses, battlefields, castles, mills, gardens, coastlines, islands, mountain ranges and the plants and animals which depend on them.”

The illegal whisky still was found at a site called Coire Corrach after the Ben Lomond property manager “found the remains of a low wall and got in touch,” according to the Herald.

After the remains were found, the archaeological team began the excavation and found the wall of a building they believe was a whisky bothy, a fire pit and an area where they believed a copper pot still sat. A whisky bothy is a term to describe an illegal whisky-producing facility, according to The Scotsman.

In addition to the following architectural finds, The National Trust for Scotland’s head of archaeology, led by Derek Alexander, also found iron bars they believed belonged to a fire grate, a piece of a lead patch used to repair leaky barrels, and some wooden pieces that may have once been a part of old barrel staves.

Findings of wooden materials of any kind are particularly rare and they require a specific environment in order for them to remain well-preserved, according to the Museum of London Archaeology.

“The iron bars are very similar to the ones we found at the original Glenlivet Distillery which we know was there around the first half of the 19th century. So, going by that and other evidence, we think the Ben Lomond site dates back to around that time too,” Alexander stated, according to The Herald.

According to the Scotch Whisky Association, taxation on whisky was first introduced by the Scottish Parliament in 1644, which led to a meteoric rise of illegal whisky distilleries in the country.

“Thousands of illicit stills began popping up all over Scotland in hidden locations, away from built-up areas and usually near water. We know that there were a lot of still sites in the Loch Lomond area and that excise men would patrol the loch in a fast, light boat known as a cutter. They would be looking for signs of activity and when they found them the stills were destroyed,” Alexander continued.

According to Alexander, Scots made whisky for personal consumption, and any surplus supply would be given as payment for rent or sold for extra cash.

The Excise Act was passed in 1823, which allowed legal whisky distilling for a fee of the equivalent of $13 today and a payment per gallon of spirit.

George Smith, the founder of the Glenlivet Distillery, was one of the first to purchase a license to legally make whisky according to The Herald. This decision did not sit so well with his counterparts, and it was common knowledge the distiller carried two flintlock pistols with him for protection.

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