Lerwick Distillery Advances With 2 Malt Stills Installed
Work on Shetland’s first whisky distillery is well underway with two 4,000-litre malt stills installed. According to sources, Lerwick Distillery will open shop on Market Street this September. The distillery will import blended whisky before producing single malt whisky on site.
Upon opening early next year, people will be able to take tours of the project. By this time, it is estimated that over £4 million will have gone into the site. As announced before, a significant part came from an investment scheme reaching Australia, Japan, and the United States.
As a result of this investment, the project has expanded beyond its original concept. In addition, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) invested another £250,000 in production equipment. Andrew Gear, head of business growth in Shetland, described the distillery as a “real asset” for the island.
Lerwick Distillery Makes Great Project and Opens Soon
“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.”
It is estimated that the equipment will be able to produce around 700 to 900 liters a day of whisky. This brings hope that the project will result in the creation of between 12 and 14 jobs.
According to Scottish law, whisky cannot be called whisky until it has matured for at least three years and one day. To this end, Lerwick Distillery plans to bottle a blended spirit to sell while it waits.
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.”
