This is the season when ghosts and goblins come out to play, as the days become shorter and the nights get longer. What could be scarier than a distillery populated by the dead? There are many legends about ghosts and other paranormal occurrences at whiskey distilleries all around the world. The following are a few of the most chilling tales from the world of distilleries, guaranteed to keep you awake at night.
The Spectral Monk of Kingsbarns
The first stop on our tour is Scotland, the birthplace of the whiskey industry. The year is 2014, and the only thing standing between you and a successful career in the entertainment industry is a bachelor’s degree. But that doesn’t mean you won’t find a ghost or two lurking about here.
The monk’s ghost is the most well-known at the distillery. Several employees and guests have reported seeing him, and he is generally considered to be a benevolent ghost. He’s been known to prowl the grounds and pitch in during the distillation process.
There are other spirits roaming Kingsbarns besides the monk. A woman in a white dress thought to be the ghost of a previous distillery employee, has also been seen on occasion. People have reported seeing her on the grounds and in the windows. The Dream to Dram expression is the flagship single malt whiskey from Kingsbarns Distillery. This whiskey is produced conventionally and aged in used bourbon barrels.
Local Yamazaki Yokai
The next stop is Japan, which produces some of the world’s most interesting whiskies. Legend has claimed that the ghost of a young girl lingers at the Yamazaki distillery. She has been known to prowl the grounds and interact with the staff’s kids.
However, the girl isn’t the only spirit lurking around Yamazaki. The spirit of a previous employee, shown as a man in a black suit, has also been seen. He often strolls the grounds of the distillery and has been known to pitch in with the occasional bottling.
Yokai are Japanese spirits, yet they are not unique to Yamazaki. Kurama-Tengu, a mischievous Yokai, is rumored to reside in the Hakushu distillery. He has been seen taking bottles of alcohol and playing practical jokes on the staff. Yamazaki’s Sherry Cask and Hakushu’s 12-Year-Old, which won World’s Best Single Malt at the 2013 World Whiskies Awards, are only two examples of the two distilleries’ world-class whiskies.
The Poltergeist of Highland Park
The Highland Park distillery was constructed on top of a historic Pictish burial cemetery, even though this is generally frowned upon.
Magnus Eunson, a descendant of the Vikings who originally settled Orkney, constructed the distillery in 1798. A man named Thorfinn Skullsplitter, who has a reputation for being a renegade, has a reputation for being a lone wolf who doesn’t care about anyone but himself.
Several employees have reported seeing a Viking-looking guy wandering the grounds and hearing his battle cries reverberating through the buildings. While no whiskey barrels have been shattered (yet), Thorfinn’s ghost is supposed to be responsible for the disappearance of the odd bottle.
Highland Park created Valknut, a limited edition whiskey made with locally sourced peated malt and matured in sherry-seasoned European oak casks, to celebrate its Norse heritage. Even the most discriminating whiskey connoisseur will find satisfaction in Highland Park’s Valknut, which is thought to be a worthy tribute to the spirit of Thorfinn Skull-splitter.
The Gallows Dram
Is it any better to construct over the local execution site than over a Pictish cemetery? Elgin’s Gallow Hill, where public executions took place up until 1747, is now home to the Glen Moray distillery. The spirit of a woman named Janet Douglas, who was falsely accused of poisoning her husband, is claimed to haunt the distillery.
It is alleged that the ghost is so active that employees have heard footsteps and other unexplained noises, and have even witnessed objects moving on their own. There have been reports of paranormal activity at the Glen Moray distillery, which may or may not be related to the quality of the whiskey produced there. The Glen Moray 15-year-old, with its fruity and spicy tastes, is a fantastic representation of the distillery’s output.
Jura’s Twin Phantoms
The Jura distillery can be found on the Scottish island of Jura. Fewer than 200 people live on the island, yet legend has it that two spirits make their home there. A man named Red Colin Campbell, who was a bit of a problem in life, supposedly haunts the area as the first spirit. He allegedly haunts the stillhouse and likes to mess with the employees.
Lady Elizabeth Mackinnon, a woman, is the subject of the second apparition. It is reported that after she died in 1779, she still haunts the grounds of Jura House. Legend has it that she made an appearance to Laird Archibald Campbell in 1781, telling him to set up a distillery there.
Legend has it that the Jura distillery occupies a cave once frequented by smugglers and that the whiskey is made with water drawn from a well dug by the devil. There’s no doubt that Jura whiskies are among the best in the world, regardless of whether you buy into these stories or not.
We do know that on the anniversary of her death, a bottle of Jura 16-year-old is left out for Lady Elizabeth Mackinnon. And if you go to the Jura House library, you can see her image hanging there.
Have a Drink in Honour of Halloween
That concludes our presentation of ghost stories from whiskey distilleries. Whether or not you believe them, they make for an interesting tale. Raise a glass to the ghosts (or spirits) that inhabit the distillery the next time you enjoy your favorite dram.