200-year-old illicit whisky still unearthed in the Scottish Highlands

Archaeologists in Scotland have made a striking discovery: a hidden illegal whisky still has been uncovered in the middle of a nature reserve. The remarkable find was made at the Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve, near Killin, and is more than 200 years old.

Researchers from the National Trust for Scotland uncovered the remains of a so‑called bothy during fieldwork: a simple shelter used to conceal illicit distilling equipment. Excavations revealed stone walls, a wooden post, a hearth, and a drain beneath a stone floor.

The bothy’s location appears to have been chosen with care. Not only does it sit in the heart of a national park, it’s also tucked into a bend of the burn, making the still hard to spot from both upstream and downstream. It suggests the illicit distillers knew exactly how to keep their activities out of sight of the authorities.

One of the most striking finds is a piece of copper alloy. According to the archaeologists, it’s likely a connector leading to the lyne arm. That makes this discovery especially noteworthy. Several illegal distilleries have now been identified in the nature reserve, but this is the first site where an actual metal component of a still has been found.

Illicit whisky makers were known for traveling light and leaving as few traces as possible. The metal part may therefore have been left behind by accident: perhaps when the distillers were forced to break down their kettles and other equipment in a hurry as the Excise man approached.

This whisky discovery sheds fresh light on a pivotal period in Scotland’s whisky history. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, illicit distilling surged, especially after the Excise Act of 1788, which banned the use of small household stills.

Through the project The Pioneering Spirit, which investigates illegal whisky sites across Scotland, researchers are exploring the true scale of the practice and where it took place. The project has already identified 30 locations where whisky was likely distilled illicitly in the past.

Evidence of illegal distilling has also turned up elsewhere in Scotland. In 2008, foresters discovered the remains of a small still in Glen Affric, in the Highlands. And in 2019, two abandoned farms in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park were recognized as former illicit whisky sites.

The Ben Lawers discovery shows how archaeology can unearth hidden stories of whisky, smuggling, and local communities. Where documents often fall short, stones, wood fragments, and a small piece of copper can still tell the tale of people quietly making whisky in the Scottish hills.

How many illegal distilleries will ultimately come to light remains to be seen.