PICTURES: The new £7 million Uilebheist brewery and distillery in Inverness moves a step closer to realisation after owner Jon Erasmus and team take delivery of all of the production equipment after a heavy lift job from Germany
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Something is brewing in Inverness – and one man’s dream, almost 20 years in the making, just moved closer to realisation.
The new £7 million Uilebheist distillery and brewery, by the River Ness, this week took delivery of huge pieces of gleaming new equipment needed to generate the city’s first beer and whisky production in 40 years, at the first premises of its kind built in 130 years.
Glen Mhor Hotel owner Jon Erasmus became set on the idea in 2003 after visiting a South African brewery.
He and wife Victoria, along with master brewer Bruce Smith, have worked tirelessly to keep the project on track through numerous challenges, the latest of which was transportation of the heavy equipment from Germany through customs.
Hot and cold liquor tanks, and beer fermentation and conditioning units, as seen on the lorry, will be installed on the ground floor.
Specialist lifting assistance from Stoddart Crane Hire was required to hoist the complete brewery, in one piece, up through the ceiling between two floors.
Manufactured by Kaspar Schultz, based in Bamberg in central Germany, computer simulation helped determine the best means of raising the three tonne weight into position.
“There’s a real sense of satisfaction. It is another significant stepping stone in an incredibly complicated and technical process,” Mr Erasmus said.
“The commissioning will take two to three months. We will be doing test batches of whisky and beer in January for definite.
“This is just the start of the next part of what has been a long journey for us, which actually goes back 20 years or so since I first started looking at other people’s breweries.”
The visually striking development by the River Ness features a unique water source heat pump system generating energy from deep in the ground.
The brewery, once in full production, will be capable of producing up to 4500 litres of beer a day.
While full-scale whisky production will naturally take a lot longer to establish, the distillery recently offered up the chance for individuals to purchase a share of 100 casks of Uilebheist Single Malt Scotch Whisky, to be distilled in the first year of opening in Inverness.
Once operational, the distillery – themed on Highland myths and legend – will produce around 250 casks per year, making the Inverness whisky one of the rarest in the country.
It will also operate as a visitor centre with regular tours several times a day.
Mr Erasmus has been "surprised and blown away" by the amount of local purchasers coming forward to snap up the casks.
“With whisky, you can turn it on but you’re not going to see huge cash revenues for a number of years," he explained.
“We have offered 100 casks to the general public, with an incredible response. Most of the people investing in it are from Inverness.
“The overwhelming public response to the project is positive. It seems there are a large number of people interested and wanting to get involved in some way.
“We’re going to launch a membership programme for the distillery and visitor centre, and hopefully that will engage people on a local level.
“The great thing about being in the heart of the city is a lot of people can walk to the distillery, have a dram and relax, both from a local and a tourist’s perspective.”
More information on the casks is available here.
