New products from Orkney

In fact, many of them have been busy creating some fantastic new products to tempt you into a spring shopping spree.

Here are just some of the new items available to buy from our Creative Orkney and Taste of Orkney members.

This modern take on a traditional Orkney stool was first designed by the talented craftsman behind the Orkney Furniture Maker, Kevin Gauld, in 2006. It has continued to prove popular with customers and this special version also includes a newly-designed drawer pull and is made from ash. The design is influenced by a traditional Orkney seagrass-topped stool and features drawers in a similar style to those found in Orkney chairs. The piece can be viewed online and at Kevin’s new gallery which opened last year on the outskirts of Kirkwall.

It has been a busy few months for Orkney’s J. Gow Rum. An extension at the distillery on Lamb Holm will provide extra storage and production space, and now new products have also hit the shelves. Firstly, these beautiful Fiodh watches have been made from the first ever J. Gow Rum cask, which was used for ageing the distillery’s Fading Light rum. The watches vary in colour and grain due to the unique properties of the cask and are designed, hand-crafted and assembled in Glasgow. Meanwhile, the next release in the J. Gow Rum wild yeast series, Kveik, will be launched soon.

Michael Sinclair, Orkney’s talented woodturner has recently launched this brand-new design, perfect for displaying single stem dried or silk flowers. This half-weed pot is made from Orkney sycamore and features all its natural markings, and comes mounted on an ebonised backing board. The pot is sealed, waxed and buffed and also includes a small hole to display your single stem of choice. There are additional pieces in the range so get in touch with Michael to find out more.

The latest product from Orkney Spirits Limited, the family-run business behind the award-winning Orkney Gin Company, is Orkney Vodka. Distilled eight times using the purest local water, the vodka is exceptionally smooth with a silky texture. It can be enjoyed ice cold straight from the freezer or on its own, or served with your favourite mixers. Orkney Vodka will be available to buy online soon and from most local off-licences. Follow the team on social media for the launch date.

These new sketchbooks are perfect for the artist or writer in your life, bringing a splash of colour to help inspire creativity. Each A6 book comes with a hard front and back cover and 55 sheets of cartridge paper, and each one features a hand-painted or collaged cover by Orkney artist Jane Glue. The books come in a craft box with lid too.