Isle of Tiree

The Isle of Tiree Distillery is a small, independently run whisky and gin distillery located at West Hynish on the remote Hebridean island of Isle of Tiree. Established in 2019 by the Tiree Whisky Company, it represents a revival of distilling on the island after more than 200 years without a legal distillery. Founded by musicians-turned-distillers Alain Campbell and Ian Smith, the project was created not only to produce spirits but also to preserve Tiree’s historic connection to whisky-making and support the island’s local economy. Once known in Gaelic as “Tìr an Eòrna” (Land of Barley), Tiree historically hosted numerous illicit distillers, making this modern operation a symbolic return to its roots. The distillery itself is one of the smallest in Scotland and is defined by its traditional, hands-on approach. Production methods include direct-fired copper pot stills, manual mashing in oak vessels, and fermentation in both stainless steel and repurposed casks. This emphasis on craftsmanship, combined with the island’s coastal climate, helps shape a distinctive spirit character influenced by the Atlantic environment. Initially known for its Tyree Gin—featuring local botanicals like kelp from surrounding waters—the distillery released its first single malt Scotch whisky in 2025, marking the first legal whisky produced on Tiree in over two centuries. Alongside single malt, the distillery also produces rye-based single grain whisky and seasonal gin expressions. Today, the Isle of Tiree Distillery stands as a modern yet deeply traditional operation—small in scale but significant in heritage—bringing whisky production back to one of Scotland’s most remote and historically rich islands.