Overview: Moffat Distillery, owned by Erin and Nick Bullard, has established itself as Scotland’s only wood-fired distillery since opening in 2023. The facility produces a range of spirits including blended malt Scotch whiskies, gins, and moonshines, with the inaugural Whisky in the Dark tour scheduled for November 13th.
The Full Story
Driving at dusk along the A701 road from Edinburgh to Moffat offers a journey into the South of Scotland where the distillery stands. The impressive natural hollow, The Devil’s BeefTub, was given its unusual name by the Border reivers as it provided the ideal spot for hiding stolen cattle. Fortunately, visitors are not travelling to the area to pinch some cows; they are here to discover more about the illicit art of moonshining at Moffat Distillery.
Erin and Nick Bullard opened the doors to their £1.5 million distillery and visitor centre in 2023 and filled their first cask in 2024. The couple are passionate about small-batch sustainable spirit-making. Until the distillery’s first single malt launches on 25th September following the article date, Erin explains that what they produce is technically called spirit drink, which isn’t very romantic. Instead, they opted to call it Moffat Moonshine.
Production & Profile
The distillery utilizes recycled wooden waste product from traditional whisky making as fuel for the fire. The second spirit still is named Lena after Erin’s German great-grandmother, an immigrant from Germany who came to America in the late 1800s and made illicit beer and wine during the American Prohibition. Visitors experience the quiet crackle of flames licking the still and experiencing the tantalising aromas emanating from the whisky-soaked barrel staves.
Brand & Industry History
Erin grew up in Ohio and discovered that she has moonshining heritage through her great-grandmother, Lena. Nick’s family tree features his three-time great-uncle who was a notable brewer and another who was a vittler. The enterprising couple met and fell in love singing in a community choir in Philadelphia before deciding to make a shortlist of everything they wanted for a place to live, and founding a new distillery in Scotland came out top.
What This Means
The release highlights a unique approach to sustainable spirit-making within the region. The inaugural Whisky in the Dark: Moonshine Tour and Tasting is on Friday 13th November at 4pm and costs £38. It allows visitors to step into the distillery at night and discover more about the whisky-making process, running selected Fridays until February 2027.
Consumer Takeaway
This bottle or news offers the drinker access to a unique tasting experience featuring new make spirit and a trio of Moffat Moonshines. The venue allows guests to taste spirits in the café and shop while learning about the whisky-making process at this unique Scottish distillery.
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