April 29th 2024.
Over a decade ago, three friends - Martin Watt, Caroline MacIntyre, and Calum Miller - had a brilliant idea to open the first ever distillery on Shetland. And now, after years of planning and hard work, their dream is finally coming to fruition. Lerwick Distillery is set to open its doors later this year, much to the excitement of the locals and tourists alike.
It all started in 2022 when the trio found the perfect site for their distillery. Since then, they have been tirelessly working on the build and preparations for the grand opening. The first batch of their initial spirit, Haad Still - a traditional Shetland phrase meaning "hold still" - is currently maturing and will soon be available for purchase. However, according to Scottish law, it can only be officially called whisky after three years and one day of maturation. But that won't stop eager buyers from getting a taste of the spirit beforehand.
Aside from producing top-quality whisky, the company also plans to offer tours of the distillery, catering to the growing tourism market. To ensure the best product, they have appointed Ian Millar, a seasoned industry expert with over 50 years of experience, as their master distiller. Martin and Calum bring their expertise in chartered accountancy and architecture, respectively, while Caroline contributes her extensive background in hospitality and sales.
The Shetland Islands Council has shown their support for the distillery by providing a start-up grant, along with Business Gateway, which offers free business support in Scotland. The initial funding target of £1 million was exceeded, allowing the team to secure premises four times larger than their original plan. Martin acknowledges the crucial role that Business Gateway played in their success, stating, "The support we received was excellent. Diana helped us identify areas we missed in our business plan and connected us with valuable contacts."
In addition to their whisky, the distillery will also offer tours, providing visitors with a unique experience and insight into the distillation process. Martin adds, "We wouldn't have been able to expand our business so quickly without the funding recommended by Business Gateway. The £4,000 investment resulted in an additional £682,000 share capital, which was beyond our expectations."
Diana Abernethy, a Business Gateway adviser, expresses her delight in being a part of the journey towards establishing the first distillery on Shetland. She believes that this venture will not only boost tourism and the local economy but also put Shetland on the map as the final area in the UK to have its own distillery. This exciting news has been featured in Scottish Field, and you can subscribe to their latest issue to read more news stories.
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