Isle of Tiree Distillery: Whisky from the Sunniest Isle

Overview

The Isle of Tiree Distillery is the first legal distillery on Tiree for more than two hundred years. It sits at West Hynish, near the island’s southern tip. Tiree is the most westerly of the Inner Hebrides and one of the sunniest places in Britain. The business was founded in 2012 by two islanders, Ian Smith and Alain Campbell. They began with Tyree Gin in February 2019, mashed their first whisky in late 2020, and bottled the First Release single malt in January 2025. They also make corn and rye whiskies.

Where it is

The distillery is at West Hynish, on the south-west of Tiree, close to the old harbour at Hynish. Tiree is reached by CalMac ferry from Oban, about 4 hours via Coll, or by plane from Glasgow. The island is only about 12 miles long and very flat, so it is easy to get around by bike.

The full history

A smugglers’ island

Tiree, called the “land beneath the waves” because it is so low, was once the granary of the Hebrides. It grew so much barley that illicit distilling was everywhere. The founders point out that in 1790–91 alone, 157 people on the island were caught distilling illegally. The last legal distillery closed in the early 19th century, and the distillery describes itself as the first legal one on Tiree since 1801.

Two islanders

Ian Smith and Alain Campbell founded the company in April 2012 with the aim of bringing whisky back to Tiree and creating jobs for the island. Like many new distilleries, they started with gin to fund the whisky. Tyree Gin was launched in February 2019, made with botanicals foraged on the island.

First Release

The first mash of Isle of Tiree single malt was completed in late 2020. After more than three years in cask, the First Release was bottled and distributed in January 2025.

How it’s made

The distillery makes single malt whisky, along with corn and rye whiskies and gin, in a small island distillery. The spirit matures by the sea in the salty Atlantic air, which many distillers believe adds a coastal character.

Clans & the land

• The Macleans of Duart held Tiree for centuries. An old island stronghold site stands on Loch an Eilein, near Heylipol.
• The Campbells: in the 1670s the Earls of Argyll took Tiree from the debt-ridden Macleans. The Dukes of Argyll still own much of the island. See Clan Campbell.
• The Clearances and emigration hit Tiree hard in the 19th century, and many islanders left for Canada.

Stones, churches & the coast

• Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum, at Hynish right beside the distillery: the shore station for Skerryvore, Scotland’s tallest lighthouse, built by Alan Stevenson between 1838 and 1844 on a rock 12 miles out to sea.
• The Ringing Stone, on the north coast: a huge glacial boulder covered in prehistoric cup-marks, which rings like metal when struck. See our standing stones guide.
• Dun Mor Vaul, an Iron Age broch on the north coast.
• Kirkapol: the ruins of two small medieval chapels by Gott Bay.
• Loch Bhasapol and Loch an Eilein, the island’s freshwater lochs. See our lochs guide.

Visiting

The distillery has a shop and visitor facilities, with tours and tastings. Check opening times, which vary with the season and the ferries, and book ahead. Tiree is famous for windsurfing, with the Tiree Wave Classic held every autumn.

Nearby distilleries

• Tobermory, Mull: on the ferry route via Coll and Oban.
• Oban Distillery, Oban: at the ferry port.

The West Highlands & Mull Whisky Trail and the whisky hub cover the region.

Sources

• Isle of Tiree distillery — Wikipedia.
• The Scotsman: Tiree’s first legal distillery in over 200 years.
• Isle of Tiree Distillery: about.