PLANS to revive one of Scotland’s most infamous distilleries have been submitted.
Organic Architects, who specialise in sustainable distilling, submitted a planning proposal to the Highland Council for a new whisky distillery, on Mulchaich Farm, located in the district of Ferintosh on the Black Isle.
Along with the application to build a new distillery the firm have outlined plans for a visitor centre, and warehouse too with the aim of creating 30 jobs in the local area.
The firm said it intends to bring distilling back to the heart of the once legendary whisky producing region as they aim to start the production of Ferintosh whisky once again.
Bari Reid, director at Organic Architects, said the plans to bring back whisky distilling to Ferintosh will help people discover and enjoy Scotland’s rich history.
He said: “The re-birth of Ferintosh whisky production here is a momentous occasion for Scotland and will bring numerous benefits to the local community.
“The distillery will allow visitors to discover the rich history of this Black Isle district which has been touched by the Jacobite rebellion, the Highland clearances and contained one of the first legal distilleries in Scotland.
“Given the significance of the archaeology on the farm, local archaeologists and Historic Environment Scotland have been consulted as the design work has progressed. We look forward to continuing to work with them, as well as the local farmer and community, to resurrect the infamous Ferintosh whisky.”
The Ferintosh area was once the largest producer of Scotch whisky and in the late 18th century around 1000 locals were employed in the distilling industry.
It is widely believed that Ferintosh whisky was even the drink of choice by Bonnie Prince Charlie following his defeat at Culloden.
The distillery enjoyed booming trade in the 1700s due to a unique tax break granted to the landowner by the King.
The local whisky industry collapsed after this privilege was withdrawn in 1786, as lamented in Robert Burns’ poem Scotch Drink:
Thee Ferintosh!
O sadly lost!
Scotland, lament frae coast to coast!
Now colic grips, an’ barkin’ hoast
May kill us a’;
For loyal Forbes’ charter’d boast
Is ta’en awa!’
Susan Brook, director at Buildings Archaeology, explained that in 1690 Duncan Forbes of Culloden secured the privilege of distilling whisky free of duty on his Ferintosh Estate for services rendered to the crown during the religious unrest of the late 17th century.
The privilege lasted until 1786 with the payment of 400 merks annually with the Forbes family continuing to support the crown throughout the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite rebellions.
Brook said: “The privilege produced an immediate boom in the production of the spirit and Ferintosh whisky became increasingly popular and important, both because of its quality and its price.”
However, Brook added that there was an outcry from lowland distilleries against the flood of whisky produced in Ferintosh resulting in the privilege being withdrawn and subsequently the industry collapsed in the following years.
Reid said the history of the site is the reason why they have submitted plans to build a new distillery there.
He said: “Local tradition and archaeological evidence suggest that the ruins at Mulchaich Farm are the remains of one of the original Ferintosh distilleries.
“Today nothing remains of this lost region which was once Scotland’s biggest whisky producer and the site is used for sheep-grazing as part of the farmland at Mulchaich.
“The history of the site is the very reason for this proposal coming about, and the research that was carried out for this application has proven that there was distillation on this site.”
