The National Trust for Scotland in partnership with The Glenlivet, are running a two-week archaeological dig as part of its Pioneering Spirit project to to uncover the history and scale of illicit whisky production in Scotland.
The dig will takes place near The Glenlivet Distillery and ends on 9 July and hopes to uncover illicit stills and forgotten bothies that were used to illegally produce and smuggle whisky across the Highlands in the early 1800s.
This year’s dig follows the success of similar events held at the site of the former The Glenlivet Distillery, Torridon and Mar Lodge Estate, using archive and land research to reveal the scale of production during a time when whisky making was forbidden. Last year’s week-long dig at the site of the old The Glenlivet Distillery uncovered part of the footprint of the old building alongside a whole range of artefacts and features connected to whisky-making.
Newly appointed Chivas Brothers archivist, Robert Athol commented, “Founder of The Glenlivet George Smith risked life and liberty to turn what was originally a farm into a site to produce his single malt whisky legally. His courage and conviction not only defined the path for The Glenlivet, but was also influential on the development of Scotch whisky in general. I’m looking forward to discovering more about The Glenlivet’s past in collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland alongside volunteers at the dig”.
