New Orkney Whisky Distillery In Moves To Create Jobs And Lower Emissions
13th March 2024
Deerness Distillery Ltd has secured £246,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the £820,000 development.
Construction is underway at the distillery, which was founded by husband-and-wife team Stuart and Adelle Brown. Located in Deerness, on a peninsula in the east end of the mainland, Deerness Distillery was set up in 2016 and is known for its multi-award winning Sea Glass Gin.
Once open this summer, the distillery will see the family begin production of their new whisky using Scottish barley and speciality locally grown grains from Orkney as well as increasing production of their existing gins, vodka and coffee liqueur.
The existing premises will be extended to house a new cafe, visitor centre and larger retail shop that allows visual access to the production process. Additional buildings will house whisky malting and distilling equipment and whisky casks.
The project has a strong focus on the drive towards achieving net zero and the firm is exploring green technologies to lower carbon emissions at the distillery. Plans include using spent grains from the distillery and food waste to produce electricity to provide power, heat and hot water.
The Browns also intend to produce animal feed from the draff, the waste grains, which will reduce waste from the whisky production cycle and complete the sustainability loop for the ‘grain to glass' whisky production.
The HIE funding will contribute towards the building works and the cost of equipment for the café and the distillery including mash tuns and copper whisky stills.
Graeme Harrison, area manager for HIE’s Orkney team, said: "Whisky and gin production is a key part of our food and drink sector in Orkney. It provides valuable employment and contributes to community resilience.
“The development will help grow the business to a size where it can have a sustainable future. Orkney continues to experience a steady growth in volume tourism and this will be a valuable addition to our range of visitor attractions, particularly outwith Kirkwall, so we are very pleased to support this venture."
Stuart Brown said: “We’re delighted to be embarking on this development, which would not have been possible without the support of HIE. Building on our success with gin and vodka production is an important step in our journey, allowing us to increase sales both nationally and internationally while creating employment in the islands, attracting more visitors and having a greener footprint.”
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The scale of transformational opportunity facing the Highlands and Islands economy has been quantified for the first time in a new report. The study reports 251 planned development projects in the economic pipeline of what it refers to as regional transformational opportunities (RTOs).
The renewable energy credentials of the Highlands and Islands has attracted a visit this week from a top UK Government official leading the drive to secure clean energy by 2030. Chris Stark leads the UK Government's Mission for Clean Power by 2030, in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has submitted an application for planning permission in principle to make way for the second and final phase of development at Inverness Campus. Most of the development in the proposals is for commercial floorspace, with other elements including hotel and academic space.
Highland food and drink supply chain or manufacturing businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of fully funded one-to-one technology advice and funding support. The support is part of the second phase of Food and Drink TechHUB, which itself is part of the Northern Innovation Hub (NIH), a multi-million-pound initiative led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) under the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal.
The Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Partnership (HIREP)'s Regional Economic Strategy addresses the challenges affecting the region's businesses and communities. A partnership of public, private and academic organisations in the Highlands and Islands has unveiled its ten-year strategy to deliver sustainable economic growth across the region.
Loch Fyne company Otter Ferry Seafish Limited to increase production, safeguard the workforce and create new jobs. A £350,000 expansion project at a seafood company in Argyll will increase production, safeguard the workforce and create new jobs.
A family run agriculture company in Moray has embarked on a major growth project that will increase production and efficiency, improve product quality and create jobs. James Taylor & Son, operating at Kintessack near Forres, has secured up to £161,446 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards total project costs of £403,616.
Businesses in the tourism sector and its supply chain in the Highland Council area are being encouraged to secure a place on the Digital Tourism Support Programme. The programme is offering support to eligible businesses and social enterprises of up to three days of free, personalised, one-to-one digital advice from industry experts.
Public investment is planned for a major redevelopment project at Port of Nigg in the Highlands. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved up to £10 million to support development of the port's Inner East Quay, which will result in the creation of a new heavy-duty quayside and the introduction of roll-on roll-off capability.
A further phase of development is getting under way at Wick Business Park in a move that will support economic growth and strengthen population retention in Caithness. Park owner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has awarded a £1.8m contract to Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Ltd to build a further four new business units.
