The Story of Abhainn Dearg Distillery
The first legal whisky distillery to be established in the Outer Hebrides in almost 200 years.
Abhainn Dearg Distillery (pronounced Aveen Jarræk, meaning Red River) is an independent craft distillery in Carnish, Uig, on the Isle of Lewis. Founded in 2008 by Mark Tayburn (Marko), the distillery brought legal whisky making back to the Outer Hebrides for the first time since 1829.
The first spirit left the island in 2010, when two small casks of new make were sold. One travelled to Germany to tour whisky festivals with Alba Import, while the other found a home at McSorley's Bar in Glasgow. Shortly afterwards, a limited bottling of the new spirit, The Spirit of Lewis, was released and quickly sold out.
In 2011, Abhainn Dearg released its first single malt – a limited three-year-old expression. Bottles soon found their way to whisky enthusiasts around the world, earning praise for their distinctive character and marking the return of legal whisky production to the Outer Hebrides.
Today, the distillery produces a growing range of single malt whiskies, including its 10-year-old expression, together with special releases and cask-strength bottlings. Remaining true to its original vision, Abhainn Dearg continues to produce whisky using barley grown at Goathill Farm, Melbost, with every stage of production—from grain to bottle—taking place within the Outer Hebrides.
More than a distillery, Abhainn Dearg is a testament to determination, independence and craftsmanship. We invite you to explore our story, discover our whiskies, and experience one of Scotland's most distinctive craft distilleries in the remarkable landscape of Carnish, Uig, Isle of Lewis.
Brown Trout Fishing at Loch Scaslavat
Enjoy the peace and solitude of Loch Scaslavat in the heart of Uig, where Abhainn Dearg Distillery offers catch-and-release brown trout fishing in a truly unspoilt Hebridean setting.
The loch lies beside the Stail Umha Bothy, surrounded by open moorland and spectacular scenery. Whether you're an experienced angler or simply looking to spend a few quiet hours on the water, Loch Scaslavat offers the chance to fish for wild brown trout while enjoying the tranquillity of one of the Isle of Lewis's most beautiful landscapes.
Fishing is available on a catch-and-release basis to help preserve this natural fishery for future generations.
Please contact the distillery for availability and further information.
Opening Hours
Open 5 Days - Monday to Friday
Closed for lunch 1-2pm
Open Afternoons 2pm to 4pm
Warehouse Cask Strength Tasting Experience
Experience Abhainn Dearg whisky in the heart of remote Uig on the Isle of Lewis. This relaxed, informal tasting is held in the distillery's rustic tasting area, where you'll discover the story behind Scotland's most westerly mainland-independent craft distillery while sampling whisky straight from the cask.
Your tasting includes three cask-strength drams, each drawn from a different cask, together with a special dram from our 2008 production – the first legal whisky distilled in the Outer Hebrides in modern times. It's a unique opportunity to taste a piece of Hebridean whisky history.
Available: From April 2026
Price: £85 per person
Minimum Booking: 2 people
Booking: Advance booking through our website is essential.
Accommodation - Stail Umha Bothy
Set beside the pier on the peaceful shore of Loch Scaslavat, Stail Umha (Copper Still) Bothy offers simple, traditional bothy accommodation for walkers, cyclists and outdoor adventurers looking to experience the wild beauty of the Hebrides. Surrounded by open moorland, mountain scenery and sweeping loch views, the bothy is also just a short walk from three outstanding beaches, making it an ideal base for exploring this remote and unspoilt part of the Isle of Lewis.
Free to use, the bothy provides a rustic shelter where guests can disconnect from modern life and enjoy the quiet charm of the island landscape.
Please note this is a very basic bothy suitable for four people and has no facilities nor services provided — there is no electricity, running water, heating, toilets or cooking equipment — so visitors should arrive fully prepared and self-sufficient for a true off-grid Hebridean experience.