Whisky Abhainn Dearg - Scotland's most westerly whisky rebellion

In remote Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Abhainn Dearg Distillery has been making whisky history since 2008 - as the first and only commercial distillery in the archipelago. Founded by Mark Tayburn, a passionate local patriot, Abhainn Dearg (Gaelic for "red river") stands for pure pioneering spirit. Here, where the Atlantic wind whips against the distillery walls, a whisky with a wild, untamed soul is created.

Abhainn Dearg favours artisanal minimalism. The water comes directly from the boggy river next to the distillery and the barley is sourced locally wherever possible. The small pot still plant painstakingly produces only around 20,000 litres of alcohol per year. The maturation in ex-bourbon casks gives the whisky its distinctive character: a storm-whipped mix of salty sea breeze, dried seaweed and sweet vanilla notes, infused with a smoky undercurrent.

The "Spirit of Lewis" series is remarkable - young bottled whiskies that deliberately forgo long maturation and present their boisterous, almost rebellious character. Critics love or hate this purist style, but that is precisely what makes Abhainn Dearg so special.

This distillery is not a mass producer, but a declaration of love to the rugged Hebridean nature. Every bottle tells of the battle against the elements - and of the triumph of taste over the commercialisation of whisky. Abhainn Dearg proves it: Even in the 21st century, the whisky revolution continues.