Construction on Shetland’s first whisky distillery is progressing well and two 4,000-litre malt stills have been installed. The Lerwick Distillery team is working towards opening the shop on Market Street in September.
Initially, blended whisky will be produced from casks from the south, followed by a single malt made on site. When the whole building opens next year, people will have the opportunity to tour it, and it is estimated that £4 million will have gone into the project.
In addition to this, the project has attracted interest from all over the world, including Australia, Japan, and the United States. It is through these investments that the project has been able to expand over time.
Lerwick Distillery Will Produce Whisky After First Year
Its head of business growth in Shetland Andrew Gear said the development of the isles’ first whisky distillery will be a “real asset” to Shetland.
“It will create a high-quality product with global appeal, that will enhance Shetland’s food and drink offering and the visitor experience for our growing tourism market,” he said.
“It will also help create valuable employment opportunities in a new industry for Shetland.”
A £250,000 investment has also been made by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in production equipment. It is hoped that the project could create between 12 and 14 jobs in the Highlands. A single day’s production of whisky will be around 700 to 900 liters with the equipment available.
According to Scottish law, a spirit cannot be legally called whisky until it has been aged three years and one day, so until that time the distillery plans to bottle and sell a blended spirit.
Operations director Calum Miller said it is an “amazing” feeling to get the project – first mooted around six years ago – to this stage.
“It’s definitely the biggest thing I’ve ever accomplished in my lifetime,” he said.
“But we still have a way to go yet, so it’s a bit of a cautious excitement.”
Co-founder Martin Watt added: “Calum and I had our first meeting probably six years ago and we must have looked like rabbits in headlights at that meeting.
“To see what’s behind us now is absolutely fantastic. I just cannot wait to get the doors open and get people in here and actually see what we’ve put together.”
