Hand-crafted multi award winning spirits lovingly produced by the Watt family.

Orkney Spirits Limited created Orkney's first ever gins, and has also added Scotland's first Akvavit - Orkney Akvavit, and Orkney Vodka to their global award-winning offers. The small, family run business enjoyed the limelight with an appearance on Celebrity Chef, James Martin's TV show 'Saturday Morning with James Martin' at Christmas in 2023, where the chef and his guests revelled over their spirits, including their limited edition Christmas Old Tom, Aatta Gin and Orkney Akvavit. Their traditional, much loved range derives from Orkney's rich history and folklore, using locally foraged and homegrown botanicals in their spirits much like their Orcadian ancestors would in cooking and drinks making in the past. Traditional techniques and processes, married with their family drive, and use of only the highest quality ingredients - including seven and eight distillations (a process which creates crystalline quality and smoothness) - make Orkney Gin Company's spirits unforgettable, and many of the most distilled spirits of this kind in the UK. 

Orkney Spirits Limited came from a mutual enjoyment of gin back in 2014, and by 2016, Orkney Gin Company was finally formed. Orkney Gin Company was the first gin producer in Orkney, run on a very small scale from the Watt’s family home - producing two wonderful and unique gins, made using both traditional methods and innovative concepts which were new to Scotland. Now, the company has expended to a purpose built micro distillery in Burray, which unfortunately is already too small, so they cannot accept visitors. The family would encourage those looking to try their spirits to try local bars, restaurants and small local shops.

Their Johnsmas and Mikkelmas Gins which are named after midsummer and harvest time are lovingly steeped in seven times distilled spirit for long periods of time, then hand bottled, hand labelled and boxed. Their zesty and fruity Rhubarb Old Tom Gin which was released in 2017 is also created this way. It is inspired by Orkney’s much-celebrated rhubarb plants, which grow very well in the harsh climate. With vast quantities of chopped Scottish rhubarb steeped for several weeks, Rhubarb Old Tom gives that fresh zing which many gin enthusiasts enjoy.

Each year Orkney Spirits Limited has picked up a spectacular number of awards ranging from many global gold awards for their Johnsmas Gin including 'Best in UK' and gold in the World Gin Awards, Mikkelmas Gin grabbed several awards including a highly sought-after two-star Great Taste Award, and Rhubarb Old Tom has picked up numerous awards, including a Great British Food Gold, and following it's slightly older sibling, Johnsmas's footsteps with a gold in the World Gin Awards. Their new London Dry Gin was named the world's best design and best bottle in the World Drinks Awards for it's in house design inspired by Orkney's tales of the dancing selkie folk. But it's not all about looks - Aatta Gin has also won several gold awards including the Scottish Retail Food and Drink Awards and the London Spirits Competition for its exceptional bright and smooth flavour. 

In 2020, Orkney Gin Company (also known as Orkney Spirits Limited) delved into the 'other spirits' world, releasing Scotland’s first ever Akvavit – Orkney Akvavit – a Scandinavian-style distilled spirit inspired by Orkney’s Viking history, and Orkney Vodka, a smooth and delicate grain vodka made using Orkney's pure and clean water. Within Orkney Akvavit's first year, it won a prestigious three-star Great Taste Award and was named the World's Best Aquavit in the World Drinks AwardsEach of Orkney Spirits Limited’s offerings is a must-try, with smooth texture and quality from many distillations and vibrant flavour notable in the first sip. Their Orkney Akvavit is certainly worth a try even based on the fact it’s the first ever Scottish Akvavit made using the experience Orkney Spirits Limited have gained from the creation of their multi-award winning gins. It is loved by countless Scandinavian Akvavit drinkers, and many of their gin-drinking customers too.

*Sorry, Orkney Spirits Limited/ Orkney Gin Company do not have a shop or visitor centre on site*

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