Claragh Kean. Her Farm Turned Into a Distillery.

Claragh grew up on the farm, a self-described red-headed terror running wild across rolling green hills with cattle, sheep, pigs, and her siblings. The distillery used to be the barn where they kept the animals. Then it became a gymnasium with basketball courts. Then it became a distillery. She was 16 when they found the flavor profiles that worked, and she went from hating whisky to drinking cask strength neat. She helped design the tasting room, built where she used to hand-raise sheep and pigs. Oak parquet floors. Light sconces shaped like whisky casks. Every detail intentional.

Claragh grew up on the farm, which turned into a distillery.

“The distillery used to be the barn where we kept the animals. I spent my time growing up with the animals and my siblings here. Then we turned it into a gymnasium with basketball courts and then it became the distillery. So there’ have been a few changes here…”

She got to grow up rather feral on the big farm (how many acres?). No streetlights, no traffic, few neighbors. Just rolling green hills, crops, cattle, sheep, pigs and her siblings. And being the youngest, she got to play the role of a “red-headed terror.”

Now she’s working daily in the operation. Marketing, social media and spending time in the tasting room and shop.

And she helped Raer Whisky find a flavor profile for people who don’t think they like whisky.

“I was 16 when we found the flavour profiles that worked and I don’t just like the 4 whiskies we have…I LOVE THEM. I hated whisky until I tried it in a cocktail, and it changed my view. I then developed a palate and now I drink cask strength whiskies neat and new make spirits. It’s my go to for sure.”

When it came time to build the tasting room and store, it ended up being built where she used to hand raise sheep and pigs. She worked on the design of the space and there are subtle whisky distillery hints everywhere you look. The oak parquet on the floors, the light sconces that look like curved whisky casks, the open beam wood ceiling… All intentional.

“I love Scotland and I loved growing up on this land, but I’m a redhead with freckles, but I’ve got no freckles… I never see the sun.”

She’s right. I’ve been here a week in the middle of summer and it’s been cold and grey and wet most of my stay.

“It’s great weather for Scotch whisky, but I want to see the sun!”

Claragh is moving to Florida soon to help with bringing Raer Whisky to the state. If you see her in Florida, tell her about your Raer Moment. That favorite memory, best personal triumph, or funniest thing you’ve ever seen.

She’ll be out in the warmth of the Florida sun, probably getting new freckles.

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