The History of Whisky on the Isle of Man

Whisky distilling on the Isle of Man has a turbulent history. Westminster prohibited distillation on the Island in 1826; when the ban was inadvertently omitted from later customs legislation, Tynwald reinstated it in 1867. Legal distilling returned in 1980, followed by Glen Kella’s controversial clear “Manx Whiskey” and, in 2023, the release of Manx Whisky Company’s first single malt. This timeline explains how smuggling, taxation, legislation and court battles shaped the history of Manx whisky.

By Magnus Grinneback, co-founder and distiller at Manx Whisky Company.

Isle of Man whisky history: key dates

Year	Event
1680s	The Isle of Man is already established as a centre for smuggling, using its low duties and position in the Irish Sea to redistribute imported goods.
1755	A contemporary estimate puts annual Crown revenue losses from Isle of Man smuggling at at least £500,000, with total economic losses estimated at £700,000.
1765	Under Revestment, the British Crown purchases the Atholl family's rights in the Island for £70,000 and takes control of Manx customs revenue. Smuggling nevertheless continues.
1823	Britain's Excise Act encourages Scottish distillers to become licensed businesses, helping to drive Scotland's commercial whisky boom.
1826	Westminster prohibits the distillation of spirits on the Isle of Man, preventing a legal Manx distilling industry from forming.
1867	After the original prohibition is omitted (likely accidentally) from revised customs legislation, Tynwald reinstates the distilling ban in a single sitting from which the press are excluded.
1976	Tynwald commissions a report into the viability of distilling on the Island. It concludes that distilling would bring economic benefits and recommends repealing the ban.
1980	Following changes to the Island's customs arrangements, distilling becomes legal in the Isle of Man.
1995	The Manx Whiskey Regulations are approved and recognise rectification as a qualifying production stage in the definition of Manx Whiskey.
1997	The High Court in the UK rules that Glen Kella's redistilled spirit cannot be sold as 'whiskey' in the UK because it was not matured after redistillation.
2019	Manx Whisky Company is founded by Scott Young and Magnus Grinneback.
2020	Manx Whisky Company begins distilling whisky on the Isle of Man.
2023	Batch One from Manx Whisky Company is released and this is very likely the first legally released Isle of Man single malt whisky.

The distilling boom that wasn't

If you stand at the top of Snaefell on a sunny day you can easily see both Scotland and Ireland, two giants in the world of whisky distillation. So if the distances are that short, how did it happen that whisky distillation became a world-famous industry forming part of the national identity of these two countries, but not on the Isle of Man?

To answer this question, we will have to go back in time to the 17th century. This was before industrialisation started in earnest and commercial whisky distilling had not yet developed anywhere at any scale. That doesn’t mean knowledge of distillation was unknown, however - it existed only at a very small scale.

In other parts of the world things had progressed further. Commercial distillation of brandy in the Charente region of France and rum in the Caribbean goes back to the 1640s. Brandy in particular was a popular drink and this needed to be imported. And where there are imports there are duties! What could possibly go wrong?

Why the Isle of Man became a smuggling hub

At this time the Isle of Man was not ruled by the English Crown but first by the Stanleys and later by the Duke of Atholl who had feudal rights over the Island in his capacity as Lord of Mann (a title that still exists today and is currently held by King Charles III). This independence meant that import duties in the Isle of Man could be set lower than they were in Ireland and Britain. Lower duties were enacted and predictably, this led to widespread smuggling. Goods were legally imported into the Isle of Man and then smuggled onwards to Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.

This business really took off and grew to an enormous scale. Contemporary sources estimated annual losses to Crown revenue at least £500,000, with a further £200,000 lost by the East India Company and legitimate traders. It is worth clarifying that during this time duties were the largest source of reliable ordinary revenue for the government so one can imagine the frustration officials must have felt seeing all this lost income. The smuggling carried on for a long time – almost 100 years – but in 1765 the British government was cash-strapped after the Seven Years’ War and finally stepped in to stop it.

Revestment and the Mischief Act of 1765

To gain control of the Isle of Man, the Crown bought the rights to the Island from the Duke of Atholl for £70,000. Following this, legislation was put in place, securing control of the Island. One of the acts put in place was given the name of ‘An Act for more effectually preventing the mischiefs arising to the revenue and commerce of Great Britain and Ireland from the illicit and clandestine trade to and from the Isle of Man’ - known colloquially as ‘The Mischief Act’.  Any duties that had been collected on the Island previously now went to the Crown instead of the Duke of Atholl. The process of the Crown gaining control over the Island was (and is) referred to as ‘The Revestment’.

Curiously it does not seem that duties were equalised immediately as one would expect. Our research indicates that it took 100 years before duties were raised to the same levels as the rest of Britain and smuggling still carried on even after Revestment.

The duties were finally raised to British levels in 1865 and this seemed to have finally put an end to the era of smuggling.

Why whisky distilling was banned in 1826

While the Island went through Revestment and in the decades that followed, things were happening in Scotland and Ireland. Industrialisation had started and this made it possible to distil grain-based spirit on a much larger scale than previously. This was the time when distilleries that we recognise today started appearing. In Ireland, Bushmills got its licence in 1784 and over in Scotland, Bowmore and Oban were founded in 1779 and 1794 respectively. Many more followed after the British government enacted the Excise Act of 1823 which incentivised many illicit distilleries to become legitimate businesses. Many legendary distilleries trace their beginnings to this era and examples include Springbank (1828), Macallan (1824), Midleton (1825) and Talisker (1830).

Nothing like this happened on the Isle of Man and the reason for this was that Westminster passed a ban on distilling on the Island in 1826. It is not clear what caused this ban but given the Island’s reputation for smuggling it is easy to understand that British authorities would have been nervous about having distilleries based on the Island.

The accidental repeal and second ban of 1867

The 1826 distilling ban was part of the broader 1826 customs act. In the 1850s and 1860s customs laws were consolidated and reformed several times – complex work that could have unintended consequences and somehow the provision banning distilling on the Isle of Man was not carried forward. This must have been unintentional and when it was discovered, in 1867, the Lieutenant Governor was ordered to pass a renewed distilling ban on the Island. Contemporary sources describe how the press was asked to leave Tynwald and standing orders (meaning the normal procedures that are followed) were suspended.

The new distilling act was passed in secret in one single sitting on 12 June. It reproduced the core prohibition and £200 penalty of the 1826 ban almost verbatim, but added new enforcement powers for local police and an exemption for chemists using small stills for scientific purposes. The 1867 Act's preamble also states the purpose explicitly, "Whereas it is necessary for the Protection of the Revenue of Customs to prohibit the Distillation of Spirits in this Island",  confirming it was a revenue protection measure, not a temperance or public health measure. It quickly received royal assent and was proclaimed law on a rainy Tynwald Hill on July 5, 1867. All in all, it took 20 days from start to finish. One has to wonder, was this the fastest legislation ever passed on the Island?

When was distilling legalised on the Isle of Man?

Not counting the accidental repeal, the ban remained in place for another 112 years. During these years there seem to have been discussions about starting whisky distilleries on the Island in the local press both in 1896 and 1903 but these led nowhere.

In 1976 Tynwald commissioned a report to investigate the viability of distillation of spirits on the Island. The report concluded that distilling would be economically beneficial to the Island and recommended that the ban should be repealed. Doing so was complicated and it wasn’t just about repealing the ban itself. It also meant that the Island needed to take control over its own customs revenues and by 1980 this was completed and distilling was legalised.

Glen Kella, "instant whisky" and the 1997 court case

A key figure in all this was a man called Lucien Landau who went on to found Glen Kella distillery. Landau claimed to have invented what he called ‘instant whisky’. This product was made by redistilling mature Scottish whisky and then bottling it as a clear product called ‘Manx Whiskey’. Contemporary sources indicate that there were extensive discussions on the Island about this product and a clear awareness that this was an unorthodox spirit. As we will see, those who were sceptical would be proven right.  

The ‘instant whisky’ process stripped the whisky of all its colour, resulting in a spirit that was completely clear, and apparently smooth and soft. Glen Kella produced and sold its Manx Whiskey for 17 years but eventually a lawsuit was brought by the Scotch Whisky Association, United Distillers Plc and Allied Domecq Spirits and Wine Ltd. 

We are not sure why it took so long for the Scottish industry to take action but once they did, they were successful. In 1997 the UK High Court concluded that this product could not be legally sold in the UK as ‘whisky’ because it had not undergone the required maturation after redistillation.

The court did not rule on whether the product was compliant with Isle of Man regulations or not - the regulations that Glen Kella were found in breach of were the Council Regulation (EEC) no. 1576/89. As a result, they could no longer sell the product as ‘Whiskey’ in the UK. After this, sales of ‘Manx Whiskey’ were halted. 

This era also saw the publication of the ‘Manx Whiskey Regulations 1995’ on the Island. It is a curious piece of regulation for a couple of reasons:

• It states that Manx Whiskey is whiskey ‘which acquires its character and definitive qualities during a production stage which takes place in the Island’
• It also clarifies that ‘rectification is a production stage for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a)’ – this being the paragraph above
• The regulations are completely silent on common terms such as ‘single malt whisky’, ‘blended whisky’ or ‘grain whisky’. This is unusual and something you would expect to find in any type of whisky regulations

The wording appears to have allowed the rectification process used by Glen Kella to qualify as a production stage under local regulations. Was this piece of legislation passed in support of Glen Kella during these court cases? This is a fascinating piece of whisky history, and more research is needed here – we are particularly interested in the reasoning behind these peculiar whisky regulations and hopefully we can learn more in the future.

Glen Kella Distillery still exists and a version of what used to be ‘Manx Whiskey’ lives on, but these days it is sold under the name ‘ManX Spirit’.  We have also spotted a few original ‘Manx Whiskey’ bottles from this era at auction sites and have managed to pick one up that we will use for a future tasting.

A new chapter for Manx whisky

Frequently asked questions

Why was whisky distilling banned on the Isle of Man?

Westminster prohibited distilling on the Isle of Man in 1826. The surviving sources do not clearly state why. The Island’s longstanding reputation for smuggling may have concerned the British authorities, but this remains an interpretation rather than a documented reason.

When did whisky distilling become legal again on the Isle of Man?

Tynwald began reconsidering the prohibition in 1976, following a report which concluded that a distilling industry could benefit the Manx economy. Legislative and customs changes followed, and by 1980 legal distilling had returned to the Isle of Man.

What was Glen Kella Manx Whiskey?

Glen Kella Manx Whiskey was a clear spirit produced by redistilling mature Scotch whisky on the Isle of Man. Its creator, Lucien Landau, described it as “instant whisky”. In 1997, the UK High Court ruled that it could not legally be sold as whisky in the UK because it had not undergone the required maturation after redistillation.

What was the first Isle of Man single malt whisky?

Manx Whisky Company began distilling in 2020 and released Batch One in December 2023. Based on the historical evidence identified so far, Batch One is very likely the first legally released Isle of Man single malt whisky. 

About the author

Magnus Grinneback is co-founder and distiller at Manx Whisky Company. Originally from Sweden and trained as an engineer, he founded the company with Scott Young in 2019 with the aim of producing whisky that reflects the Isle of Man as closely as possible. Magnus holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering, a Diploma in Distilling from the Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers, and the WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits, awarded with distinction.

Can you help us fill the gaps in Manx whisky history?

If you have any information or thoughts about the content of this article, please let us know! There are still gaps in the narrative and we are curious to learn more. In particular we wonder:

• What triggered the lawsuit from the Scottish industry after so many years?
•  What was the reason for the enactment of the Manx Whiskey Regulations of 1995?

You can reach us at info@manxwhisky.com.

Sources and further reading

Primary sources and archival documents

View the supporting archival documents. 

1. Treasury letter, 7 June 1814; a copy letter from the Treasury Chambers instructing the Lieutenant Governor to return to Castle Rushen prison certain persons released pending Court of Exchequer proceedings for smuggling. Manx Museum, MS 09707/7/1610.
2. The Manx Whiskey Regulations 1995, SD 26/95; approved by Tynwald 22 February 1995. Gave Manx whiskey a legal definition for the first time.
3. Mona's Herald, 10 July 1867, p.7; report of the promulgation of the Distillation Act 1867 at Tynwald Hill.
4. Mona's Herald, 24 July 1867, p.6; explanatory article on the purpose of the new Distillation Act.
5. Isle of Man Times, 7 December 1867, p.5; report of the first prosecution under the Distillation Act 1867.
6. Isle of Man Times, 29 May 1875, p.4; a Member of the House of Keys recalls the Act's passage.
7. Isle of Man Examiner, 25 January 1896, p.5; a rumoured distillery on the Island.
8. Isle of Man Times, 5 July 1902, p.2; Thomas Poole's follow-up letter.
9. Isle of Man Times, 15 February 1902 (two parts); Thomas Poole's original letters on distilling on the Island.
10. Mona's Herald, 28 June 1938, p.3; "Stories of Tynwald," a retrospective feature that describes the addition of the Distillation Act to the Statute Book as "one small measure."
11. Report of the Industrial Advisory Council on the Distillation and Marketing of Spirits; presented to the Lieutenant Governor and Tynwald following the Court's resolution of 17 February 1976 that the Council investigate the viability of a Manx distilling industry; agreed 15 April 1976. Reproduces the 1867 Act as an appendix.
12. Isle of Man Weekly Times, 1 June 1976; official support announced for a Manx whisky plan.
13. Isle of Man Weekly Times, 28 September 1976; the Manx whisky plan goes before Tynwald.
14. Isle of Man Times, 8 January 1980; Manx whisky production begins.
15. Tynwald's own account of the Revestment; tynwald.org.im.
16. "An Act to Prevent the Distillation of Spirits," 31° Victoriae (1867); the full printed text of the Distillation Act 1867, Douglas, 1867.
17. Government Circular No. 148/76; the Customs and Excise (Distillation Act 1867 Amendment) Order 1976. Made 22 September 1976, approved by Tynwald 18 October 1976; replaced the Act's licensing provisions and empowered the Finance Board to license distilling.
18. Government Circular No. 185/77; the Customs and Excise (Distillation Act 1867 Amendment) Order 1977. In operation from 1 October 1977, approved by Tynwald 15 November 1977; extended "distil" to include re-distilling, rectifying and compounding.
19. Government Circular No. 38/79; the Customs and Excise Acts (Application) Order 1979. Made 28 February 1979, approved by Tynwald 20 March 1979, in operation from 1 April 1979.
20. Report of Proceedings of Tynwald Court, 22 February 1995; Hansard record of the sitting at which the Manx Whiskey Regulations 1995 were approved.
21. Report of Proceedings of the House of Keys, 3 February 1976.
22. Report of Proceedings of Tynwald Court, 17 February 1976; the sitting at which Tynwald resolved that the Industrial Advisory Council investigate the viability of distilling on the Island.
23. Report of Proceedings of Tynwald Court, 18 October 1976; approval of the Distillation Act 1867 Amendment Order 1976.
24. Report of Proceedings of Tynwald Court, 15 November 1977; approval of the Distillation Act 1867 Amendment Order 1977.

Primary sources - websites and official pages

1. Tynwald.org. The Story of Revestment and Popular Elections Available at tynwald.org.im/history/revestment.
2. Glen Kella website. Confirms founding date 1976, Landau's expert witness origin story.

Secondary sources

1. Black family correspondence, 1743, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, ref. D4426. Letter from John Black, Bordeaux, describing his son's partnership at Douglas in the brandy, rum, wine and tea trade. Known through Ulster Historical Foundation article. Physical copy at PRONI, Belfast.
2. Ulster Historical Foundation. Smuggling, Quarantine and Wrecking.
3. Malachy Postlethwayt, Dictionary of Trade and Commerce (1755), entry on smuggling in relation to the Isle of Man, including the memorial of the merchants of Whitehaven. Reproduced in the Manx Notebook: isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/pos1755.htm