Nc’nean Distillery, Morvern: Organic, Net-Zero Whisky

Overview

Nc’nean (say “nook-nee-an”) is one of the most remote distilleries on the Scottish mainland and one of the most forward-looking. It stands on the Drimnin estate at the tip of the Morvern peninsula, looking across the Sound of Mull. It was founded by Annabel Thomas, and its first spirit ran in 2017. Nc’nean makes organic whisky and was the first UK whisky distillery to reach net-zero carbon emissions in production. It became a certified B Corp in 2022. Its name comes from the Gaelic legend of Neachneohain, the “Queen of Spirits”.

Where it is

Drimnin is at the end of a long single-track road, 12 miles beyond Lochaline, on the north-west tip of Morvern. Most visitors cross on the Corran ferry south of Fort William and drive about 1 hour 15 minutes over the hills. Others take the short ferry from Fishnish on Mull to Lochaline. Tobermory is directly across the Sound of Mull, only 3 miles by water.

The full history

Annabel Thomas’s idea

Annabel Thomas, whose family owned the Drimnin estate, left a career in business strategy to build a distillery that was both independent and sustainable. Funding came from family and friends, loans, seed investors and a £600,000 grant through the Scottish Government. In March 2020 a further £1.7 million was raised for expansion. The broadcaster Jeremy Paxman is among the small shareholders.

Losing Jim Swan

The distillery was designed with Dr Jim Swan, one of the most respected whisky consultants of his generation. He died suddenly in 2017, just before the first distillation. Production went ahead that year. The master distiller is now Gordon Wood, formerly of Diageo.

First releases

While the whisky matured, Nc’nean sold a Botanical Spirit, first released in September 2018. The first bottle of single malt sold at a charity auction in August 2020 for £41,004. The organic, unpeated single malt has since been joined by the “Quiet Rebels” and “Huntress” series. In 2024 the distillery launched a free-postage bottle return scheme.

How it’s made

Nc’nean uses only organic Scottish barley. Its energy comes from renewable sources, and the remaining emissions are offset by planting forest. Bottles are made from 100% recycled glass. The spirit is unpeated and fruity.

Clans & the land

• The Macleans: Morvern and Mull were Maclean country. Duart Castle, seat of the Maclean chiefs, stands on a crag across the Sound of Mull and is visible from the Lochaline ferry.
• The MacInneses are linked to Kinlochaline Castle, a tower at the head of Loch Aline.
• The Lords of the Isles: the MacDonald Lords of the Isles held the western seaboard, including Morvern, until 1493.
• The Morvern Clearances: in the 19th century most of Morvern’s people were evicted for sheep, and many villages were abandoned. Ruined townships can still be found in the glens.

Churches, stones & lochs

• Kiel Church, Lochaline: a 19th-century church above the bay, with a fine collection of medieval carved grave slabs and an early cross in its kirkyard.
• Loch Sunart, to the north, and Loch Aline and Loch Arienas in Morvern itself. See our lochs guide.
• For carved stones and prehistoric sites further south, see Kilmartin Glen and our standing stones guide.

Visiting

Nc’nean runs small-group tours, Monday to Friday, by booking. Check ncnean.com before making the long drive. Combine it with a trip across to Mull and Tobermory.

Nearby distilleries

• Tobermory, Mull (3 miles across the Sound, via the Lochaline–Fishnish ferry).
• Ardnamurchan, Glenbeg (about 1 hour 30 minutes by road around Loch Sunart).
• Oban Distillery, Oban, via the Craignure ferry from Mull.

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

Sources

• Nc’nean distillery — Wikipedia.
• Nc’nean, official site.