An Illicit Whisky Still at Carnasserie
FIRAT Archaeological Services Ltd have identified a small kiln, interpreted as representing evidence for illicit whisky distilling, during monitoring monitoring of work undertaken by the roads department of Argyll and Bute Council to widen the A816 at Mill Brae, Carnasserie. An archaeological presence was required on site during this work because ground disturbance would take place close to a scheduled cup-and-ring maked rock. While the fieldwork did not identify any additional cup-markings, the small kiln was identified and recorded.
Pre-excavation. Image copyright FIRAT Archaeological Services Ltd.
Before the excavations commenced, a distinct U-shaped hollow was identified at the south end of the area that would be affected by the road widening. On excavation, it was determined that this hollow represented part of the flue and bowl of a small oval shaped kiln. The majority of the bowl of the kiln lay outside the area affected by the groundworks, and was therefore left unexcavated so that it could be preserved in situ. However, the remains of the flue and the mouth of the kiln bowl lay within the area of ground to be reduced as a result of the roadworks, so these sections were excavated.
The function of this small kiln was not immediately clear. White burnt stones were identified, which suggested that it could represent a small clamp kiln for processing lime for agricultural and or building purposes. However, no pieces of burnt lime were recovered. The lack of a consistent stone lining and the broad flue did not suggest a corn drying kiln, while there was no evidence of slag or ore associated with the feature, which suggested that it had not been used for iron smelting. Samples taken from the kiln were processed, and these indicated that the burnt stones were definitely not limestone. No cereal grains were recovered from the samples, and it was observed that a lot of the charcoal was small twigs, suggesting that heather had been used for fuel. These analyses determined that the kiln had not been used for lime or for corn drying, and it seems most likely that this kiln is a whisky still site.
Flue fills in cut. Image copyright FIRAT Archaeological Services Ltd.
In order to produce whisky, dried malted barley is boiled in a mashing cauldron or drum before the resulting fermentable wort is poured off into the fermenting tub. Once the wort had fermented it is then distilled into whisky. It seems likely that this small kiln was in fact the kiln or hearth for the mash cauldron. The distribution of ash suggested the fire was in the bowl of the kiln rather than being drawn up a flue, as would be the case in a corn drying kiln. The bowl of the kiln was therefore a large hearth in a hollow, into which the mash cauldron could be set. Under this interpretation, the flue would operate not so much a flue as the access point to the hearth to be able to feed the fire, and space in which to pour off the wort into another container. The lack of a decent stone lining, with only a few stones at the edges of the bowl, suggests a support for the cauldron rather than a stone lining of the feature. The scorched earth in the mouth of the bowl and flue also suggests fire directly on the ground in the bowl, under the cauldron.
Post-excavation. Image copyright FIRAT Archaeological Services Ltd.
In support of this interpretaion, it is worth noting that the feature is located directly across the road from Carnasserie Mill, where grain and malting facilities would be available. There was also a pond to provide the essential water supply just a few metres away to the north, as well as the river to the west at the bottom of the cliff. The site is also concealed by bedrock outcrops along its eastern side and is set into a hollow, and there would have been a good draught from the west to fan the fire at the top of the steep slope or cliff.