The Lost Distillery Files: Lossit Distillery
Scott Watson and Brian Woods left Diageo and took up a noble cause: finding long lost orphaned Whiskies and giving them a home. The Lost Distillery Company aims to re-create contemporary artisinal blends without compromising authenticity. The project was launched by the Whisky entrepreneurs in 2013.
When given a second chance at life, these Whiskies go through a very thorough and methodical three step process that abides by 10 key components, to ensure that the quality and authenticity of the original spirit remains un-compromised. These guys definitely do their research. They even have their own archiving team led by a professor from the University of Glasgow, Michael Moss. They strive to recreate the Whisky just as they would have been years ago.
So hop in their Whisky time machine and take a trip to The Lossit Distillery. ‘The only manufacture is distilling, which is carried on to a considerable extent in this island. There are three distilleries in the parish, – Lossit, Tallant, and Bowmore, producing above 60,000 gallons among them. The Whisky of this island being very much famed for its fine quality, commands the highest price in the market.’ The Statistical Account of Scotland 1834-1847; Killarow & Kilmeny.
Founded by Malcolm McNeill —a prominent farmer-distiller in 1817— near Port Askaig, Lossit started off as the biggest producer of Whisky on Islay until they closed in 1867. They used, pure oak and ex-Sherry casks. The Sherry casks infused a sweet, zesty fruit flavor into the aging spirit. The Lost distillery’s Lossit blended malt is heavily peated and infused with floral notes from the bere barley.