Uile-bheist, Distillery & Brewery

The brief was extraordinary: the first new distillery in Inverness in over 140 years, on the banks of the River Ness, in a category defined by heritage and tradition.

The creative answer was to go deeper into that heritage, not around it, name it after the monster, commission an internationally renowned artist to bring Highland mythology to vivid life, and build a brand that shapeshifts, because the creatures do.

Bright and sunny day, with a view looking along the River Ness, through the heart of the city of Inverness, before emptying into the Moray Firth and Beauly Firth
Bright and sunny day, with a view looking along the River Ness, through the heart of the city of Inverness, before emptying into the Moray Firth and Beauly Firth
Uile-bheist branding, featuring mythical kelpie in a hand-drawn style, along with the wordmarque typography in white on dark tone background. Supporting text Established 2022, Inverness running vertically at edge.
Inside Uile-bheist distillery. A huge wall graphic in brand colours, red and black, depicting the mythical Kelpie, symbol of the distillery. The distillery name in white letters, sits within the graphic.
Inside Uile-bheist. The taproom wall, featuring a large wallpaper graphic, depicting Saint Columba’s encounter with a water beast in 565 AD is the earliest recorded account linked to the Loch Ness Monster legend.
Red and black illustration depicting the mythical mother of all gods and goddesses, the Cailleach (Scottish Gaelic for ‘old woman’ or ‘hag’) is credited with creating much of our landscape, sculpting hills and mountains with her mighty hammer.
Red and black illustration depicting the mythical mother of all gods and goddesses, the Cailleach (Scottish Gaelic for ‘old woman’ or ‘hag’) is credited with creating much of our landscape, sculpting hills and mountains with her mighty hammer.
Red and black illustration depicting a colossal sea monster, the Cirein-cròin was the largest living creature of all, according to Scottish Gaelic folklore.
Red and black illustration depicting a malevolent spirit if ever there was one, kelpies are said to inhabit many of Scotland’s streams, rivers and lochs, including Loch Ness.
Red and black illustration depicting a wild tree sprite and guardian of the forests, the Ghillie Dhu was said to live in birch woods, close to Loch a Druing in the Gairloch area of the north-west Highlands of Scotland.
Red and black illustration depicting a wild tree sprite and guardian of the forests, the Ghillie Dhu was said to live in birch woods, close to Loch a Druing in the Gairloch area of the north-west Highlands of Scotland.
Red and black illustration depicting the capercaillie stands as a proud, rugged symbol of Scotland’s ancient Caledonian pine forests.
Uile-bheist Inverness Pale Ale beer. Featuring a green can with the Ghillie-Dhu character.
Uile-bheist Inverness Pale Ale beer. Featuring a green can with the Ghillie-Dhu character.
Uile-bheist Inverness Lager. Featuring a red can with the Niseag, Nessie character.
Inside Uile-bheist taproom. The row of five bar fonts, featuring Dark horse, Highland Storm, White Witch, Forest Dweller and Uile-bheist lager. All illuminated in a dark bar.
Uile-bheist dark grey tshirt, featuring illustration of the Kelpie and logo and text on chest.
Uile-bheist dark grey tshirt, featuring illustration of the Kelpie and logo and text on chest.
Uile-bheist pink tshirt, featuring illustration of the Cailleach (pronounced KAL-yach) and logo and text on chest.
Uile-bheist tricker caps in red and orange, with white front panel. Featuring embroidered distillery badge.
Uile-bheist tricker caps in red and orange, with white front panel. Featuring embroidered distillery badge.
Uile-bheist beannie caps in red and blue, featuring embroidered distillery logo.
“I had the pleasure of working with Craig in a collaboration to create unique illustrations to be used as the basis for the design aesthetic for the brand new Uile-bheist Distillery and Brewery in Inverness, Scotland. Working with Craig was one of the best creative experiences I have had. It felt like a dream team, and I was super happy with how the work came out and how Craig utilised it throughout the project to create such an epic, cohesive space …”
— Ken Taylor, Artist
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