Local gin companies shortlisted for Scottish Rural Awards

Two Orkney-based gin companies have been shortlisted in the 2018 Scottish Rural Awards.

Both the Deerness Distillery and Orkney Distilling Ltd have been shortlisted in the Artisan Drink category, while the latter has also been shortlisted for the Business Start-Up award.

A winner, runner-up and highly commended will be awarded for each of the awards’ categories at the fourth annual Scottish Rural Awards and Gala dinner, which will take place on Thursday, March 22, next year at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh.

Partnered by Scottish Field and the Scottish Countryside Alliance, in association with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), the awards are now in their fourth year.

Judged by an esteemed panel of industry leaders and experts, the awards have 13 different categories, with a rigorous multi-stage process to decide shortlists and eventual winners.

The Managing Director of Deerness Distillery, Stuart Brown said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted as a finalist in the artisan drinks category in the 2018 Scottish Rural Awards. After many months of hard work firstly constructing the distillery in Deerness, then carefully crafting and making our spirits on Orkney and launching to the UK market.

“Not only have we received global praise with silver medals for our spirits, but being nominated as a finalist is the icing on the cake for what’s been a fantastic year for Deerness Distillery, but this is only the tip of the iceberg of what is yet to come.”

Orkney Distilling Ltd is set to open a new distillery and visitor centre in Kirkwall next year. The company’s managing director Stephen Kemp said: “We’re really delighted to learn we’ve been shortlisted in two categories for these major awards celebrating excellence in the rural community.

“This has been quite a year for us already, with a double shortlisting and bronze medal from the inaugural Scottish Gin Awards. Now, as we prepare to head into what will be an incredibly busy 2018 with our distillery and visitor centre opening, this is the festive icing on the cake. We’ll be hoping to continue the successes of 2017 and again do the Orkney community proud.”