The valleys of the English - Scottish borders are renowned for their diverse, rugged beauty, free flowing streams and cool, crisp air. Yet many of them hold dark secrets that stem from one of the bloodiest periods that Britain has seen, the infamous Border Reivers through to the lesser known Whisky Smugglers who were prepared to trade blows as well as contraband.

Of this audacious breed, the two most well known are
Whisky Jack Kane and Black Rory, with the latter becoming
the most talked about in recent years.

The Coquet Valley's inaccessible nature made it ideal ground for this group of daring outlaws to produce duty-free whisky at what must be some of Britain's most illicit stills ever to be found, or not (to be found), as is the case with some of the outlaws!

Gathering the necessary ingredients wasn't a problem for Black Rory, as local farmers were only to keen to help by supplying barley and peat for the firing of the malt kiln that was usually built adjacent to the still house. Normal practice was that a stone style "byre" would be built and the smugglers would live, sleep and distil all in the one building.

Of course, in the due passing of time excise men were sent out to patrol the wild hills and find some of these aptly names "worms", however they had limited success and often returned bludgeoned, stabbed and in need of a doctor.

Some of Black Rory's stills have been traced and can be seen at Inner Hare Cleugh, Midhope, Blindburn and Wholehope.