Whisky wars are brewing on Orkney after a businessman criticised the ‘blunder’ from a rival claiming to be opening the first whisky distillery on the islands in 138 years.
Sebastian Hadfield-Hyde, managing director and founder of Kimbland Distillery, was ‘shocked’ to read about Deerness Distillery’s owners saying they were to be Orkney’s first new whisky maker in more than a century.
His own distillery began operations on Sanday in 2020 and is just weeks away from having its first whisky maturing in casks.
“They’ve made a blunder and it’s totally wrong for them to say they are going to be the first new whisky distillery for 138 years - I was shocked and couldn’t believe what I was reading,“ he commented.
“It’s not like they don’t know we’re here, as I have spoken to them - it also clearly shows us on the world whisky maps, so I’m unsure why they would make such a statement.
“I don’t really see Deerness as competition because they’re not, Kimbland is a whisky distillery, not a gin distillery playing at whisky.”
Hadfield-Hyde is focusing on using Bere barley for Kimbland’s single malt, that will be left to mature for at least 10 years, but he will be casking whisky under the Taftsness name next month, which will be ready to drink in less time.
Kimbland is the northernmost Scotch whisky distillery in the world and is on course to be the first truly carbon negative operation.
It is also due to launch an equity funding round, with casks due to be released after that was completed.
“The Deerness claims were really bad timing for us, as we are just about to launch our Seedrs equity campaign,“ explained Hadfield-Hyde. “The plan was to put aside casks after we had done that, but we are going to bring that forward and make 50 casks available.
“For the future, I’m all for pushing small Orkney brands across the world and having the two new whisky distilleries will enhance the reputation Orkney has for great produce.”
Deerness co-founder Stuart Brown responded: “Deerness Distillery has been an incorporated and operational spirits distillery since 2016, with the vision for distilling whisky in place from the get-go.
“We lay claim to being the first whisky distillery in 138 years as no other producer had made this declaration to the market other than ourselves in 2018.
“For Orkney and its people, a vibrant and active whisky industry is a hugely positive thing for the archipelago and we wish Kimbland Distillery the very best with their endeavour and look forward to getting to know them.“
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