Located near the rugged shores of Lochindaal, this historic Whisky distillery, founded in 1881, stands as a testament to craftsmanship and tradition. Its design, featuring two expansive malting floors and gravity-fed washback’s, remains largely unchanged since its inception. Despite occasional upgrades, the distillery’s commitment to preserving its heritage shines through. This is Bruichladdich distillery located on Islay, Scotland.
Bruichladdich distillery is a testament to traditional methods, Victorian machinery, and a genuine expertise in crafting fine whisky. Today, it produces approximately 2 million litres of new-make spirit annually, sourced from 100% Scottish-grown barley, with nearly half of that barley originating from Islay.
Despite numerous openings and closures throughout its history, Bruichladdich has remained steadfast in honouring its heritage while forging ahead. The distillery places its faith not only in its location and terroir but also in the people who shape its future.
Focused on four key brands, Bruichladdich Distillery offers:
- Bruichladdich: Unpeated Whisky, paying homage to its establishment in 1881.
- Port Charlotte: Heavily peated whisky (40ppm), named after the former Lochindaal distillery in Port Charlotte (1829-1929).
- Octomore: A super heavily peated expression, named for Octomore farm’s historic distillery (1816-1852).
- The Botanist Gin: A tantalizing gin featuring 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals in each bottle, best enjoyed with a slice of orange and some Fever Tree tonic.
Bruichladdich distillery holds B Corporation certification, signifying its commitment to the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility, transparency, and accountability. It stands as not only a purveyor of exceptional whisky but also as a force for positive change.
Let’s journey back in time to explore the remnants of a ghost distillery known as Lochindaal, which operated from 1829 to 1929. Situated on the stormy sea loch of Lochindaal along Islay’s southwest coast, the distillery takes its name from this rugged landscape.
At the bay’s eastern end rise the cliffs of Mull of Oa, rumoured to harbor old smugglers’ caves, concealed by shifting sea levels and once utilized to conceal casks before their clandestine transport under cover of darkness.
Lochindaal distillery, positioned at the entrance to Port Charlotte village, was erected in the early 19th century, built upon the remnants of the ancient Octomore distillery. While much of its history has faded with time, location studies reveal details such as its utilization of water from Lochs Garroch and Lorgbow, and its layout featuring a sizable square yard encompassing maltings, still houses, and various departments.
Within Lochindaal distillery, two kilns were in operation, one with a wire floor and the other employing old-fashioned hair cloth stretched over wire, both fired with peat. The distillery sourced barley from Ireland, Scotland, California, and Australia, storing it in four barley lofts before subjecting it to the floor malting process on exceptionally large malting floors, spanning approximately 50 yards in length.
Lochindaal utilized six washback’s, each with a capacity of 15,000 litres, fermenting for two to three days, and housed two stills, with the wash still boasting a size of 20,400 litres. While Lochindaal no longer distils, its legacy lives on under the ownership of Bruichladdich distillery, housing the maturing heavy-peated spirit known as Port Charlotte. Though silent, the site’s history endures within the very walls that now nurture Port Charlotte whisky, preserving the essence of a bygone era.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte, Octomore, or The Botanist gin, I highly recommend indulging in these fine spirits. Remember, the spirit at Bruichladdich is free from artificial colouring, non-chill filtered, and served in its purest form.
Want to learn more about Whisky? Check out our ultimate whisky guide – download it here and expand your whisky knowledge.
Catch up on the rest of the series with our articles on Aqua Vitae, Water and Whisky, Fermentation and Whisky, and Barley Varietals.
