The Cabrach is a remote, upland area in the North East of Scotland, within the old county of Banffshire, on the rugged edge of Speyside. It’s an area with a strong sense of place, and an extraordinary history of community spirit and resilience.
Once the hub of a thriving smuggling and illicit whisky industry, the cultural heritage of the Cabrach is that of a resilient community in a remote and fragile environment, with a special significance in Scottish history.
The Cabrach itself has a fascinating history. Its hunting forests were once the land of Scottish kings. Centuries later it became Gordon clan territory and the site of many battles. During the 18th century, the area became a stronghold for the Jacobites. But its crucial role in Scotland’s story is not just that it’s in the heart of whisky country, but also that the Cabrach is a key link between illicit and legal whisky distilling.
Locally produced, smuggled whisky became widely renowned and sought-after for its high quality. The Cabrach’s inhabitants mixed farming and illicit distilling with consummate skill, using the remote landscape to create a well-organised underground network designed to evade raids by Customs and Excise men. Due to their expertise and the uniqueness of the area, Cabrach Whisky became a premium product.
Orange twine flickers in the Highland breeze. Defying the elements. Binding people to the land. In The Cabrach, our rugged edge of Speyside, it was a common sight; one signalling repair, restoration, and resourcefulness in hard-working rural communities. Now the twine signals restoration of a different sort, as we revive the revered whisky traditions of this area. The place where Scotland’s illicit distilling story began.
But the Cabrach is an area that has suffered from significant loss and depopulation. At the turn of the 20th century, the Cabrach had a population of around 1000 people, today it is under 100.
The Cabrach Trust is working to safeguard this fragile community. The Cabrach Distillery is the concept created by The Cabrach Trust; their first major strategically planned initiative to breathe new life into the area.
An investment that is sensitive to the area’s history and special environment, that is rooted in its asset base, and that will enhance and protect its uniqueness. Ultimately, the kind of investment that will drive real, lasting change.
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