Orkney Gin & Craft Spirits Guide

Orkney gin is one of the most distinctive categories in Scottish craft spirits, shaped by botanicals found nowhere else — wild rosebuds from the coastal headlands, borage, Orkney bere barley, and heather gathered from island moorland. Four independent producers now make spirits on these islands, and between them they cover gin, akvavit, vodka, and rum. This guide covers each distillery in detail, what they make, how to visit, and where to buy locally.

Orkney’s Craft Spirits Scene

Orkney is better known for its whisky — Highland Park and Scapa between them have been producing single malt for well over a century. But since 2016 a second wave of craft producers has emerged, making gin, akvavit, rum, and vodka in small batches and drawing on ingredients unique to these islands. The result is a spirits scene more varied than the islands’ modest population might suggest. For visitors already planning to follow the Orkney whisky trail, adding one or two of these craft producers to the itinerary takes little extra time and broadens the tasting considerably.

Orkney Gin Company

Orkney Gin Company — trading as Orkney Spirits Ltd — operates from Burray, the small island connected to South Ronaldsay by the Churchill Barriers. It is a family-run operation producing what have become some of the most widely recognised Orkney spirits, with a portfolio that now extends well beyond gin.

Their two flagship gins are built around the seasons. Johnsmas takes its name from an Old Orcadian word meaning midsummer; it is a floral gin made with hand-picked botanicals capturing bright, fragrant summer character. Mikkelmas, named for Orcadian harvest time, is a spiced, silky autumn gin. Aatta is a premium London Dry, with the name meaning “eight” in Old Norse — a nod to the eight botanicals used, the eight distillations in the process, and it being their eighth product release. The range also includes a Rhubarb Old Tom, a Sule Skerry New-Western gin, and occasional limited editions.

Beyond gin, Orkney Spirits Ltd produces two spirits that have earned significant recognition. Orkney Akvavit — Scotland’s first akvavit — won the title of World’s Best Aquavit in both 2022 and 2025, along with three-star Great Taste Awards in 2020 and 2022. The caraway-led spirit, brightened with citrus and rosehips, reflects Orkney’s Scandinavian connections more directly than perhaps any other product in the range. Their Orkney Vodka, distilled in unusually small batches, was named Best Vodka at the Great British Food Awards in both 2023 and 2024.

Orkney Gin Company bottles are widely available in shops across the islands and can be ordered online with free UK delivery. The company does not operate a visitor centre, so tasting and purchasing on the islands is done through stockists rather than directly at the distillery.

The Orkney Distillery (Kirkjuvagr)

The Orkney Distillery occupies a prominent position on the Kirkwall waterfront, in a building purpose-built as both a working distillery and a visitor centre. Founded in 2016 by Stephen and Aly Kemp, the distillery opened to the public in 2018 and produces hand-crafted spirits in small batches under the Kirkjuvagr name — kirkjuvagr being the Old Norse for “Church Bay,” the name from which Kirkwall derives.

The gin range has expanded considerably from the original Origin, which remains the core expression: bold and smooth with a warm, lingering floral finish. Arkh-Angell is the storm-strength bottling for those who prefer maximum intensity. Beyla is a honey and raspberry Old Tom. Aurora is a warming winter gin full of spice, suited to the long dark season that defines the Orkney winter. The distillery also produces Man O’ Hoy Spiced Rum, blended with Orcadian botanicals and named after the towering sea stacks on the island of Hoy.

The visitor experience is among the most accessible on the islands. Guided tours run at 11am and 2pm most days — check ahead, as Sunday availability can vary by season — and last approximately one hour. Each includes a short audio-visual introduction, a walk through the working distillery, and a complimentary gin and tonic at the end. A gin-making experience is also available, with more than 30 botanicals to choose from under guidance from the distillery team. The Coffee & Gin Bar is open for visitors without a tour booking, overlooking the Kirkwall harbour front.

Deerness Distillery

Deerness Distillery was established in 2016 by Stuart and Adelle on the East Mainland peninsula of Deerness, a stretch of coastline known for dramatic clifftops and surf-facing sea stacks. It is a self-built, family-run operation that has grown from a small gin producer into a multi-spirit outfit with its own kitchen and bar.

Their signature expression is Sea Glass Gin, launched in 2017. The name was inspired by the sea glass — smooth, frosted shards of tumbled bottle glass — that washes up on Orkney’s beaches, and the spirit reflects that coastal character: juniper-forward with bright citrus notes, finishing with a hint of cucumber and mint. Sea Glass Gin won a Great Taste Award in 2018 and Silver at the London Spirits Competition the same year. Alongside it, Deerness produces vodka, a coffee liqueur, and an Edition Gin series of rotating expressions. Whisky production began in March 2025, with casks now maturing at the distillery.

The visitor experience at Deerness is notable for its food offering. The Dashing Deer Kitchen & Bar, opened in 2024, is built in a curved form inspired by a whisky cask and serves food, cocktails, and spirits alongside views of the East Mainland farmland. The gift shop carries local artisan products alongside the Deerness range. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, with Sunday hours of noon to 4pm from April to September.

J. Gow Rum

J. Gow Rum occupies a small distillery on Lamb Holm, the same causeway-linked islet that is home to the Italian Chapel — the painted wartime sanctuary built by Italian prisoners of war in the 1940s. The distillery takes its name from John Gow, a pirate who grew up in Stromness, Orkney, and was hanged in London in 1725, whose story was later fictionalised by Walter Scott in his 1822 novel The Pirate. That history runs through the J. Gow branding with conviction.

The core range covers the full spectrum of styles. Culverin is the unaged white rum, bottled at 50% ABV and named after a type of naval cannon — clean and direct. Revenge is a three-year-old rum aged in ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks, with notes of toffee, acidic fruit, and overripe peach. Fading Light XO is the top expression: six years old, aged in chestnut casks, bottled at cask strength at 53.5% ABV. J. Gow Spiced Rum rounds out the range for those who prefer a mixer-ready style. The distillery also produces limited wild-yeast expressions, including one fermented using yeast cultivated from orchids that grow beside the distillery.

The distillery is open for tours and tastings Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Its position on Lamb Holm makes it a natural pairing with a visit to the Italian Chapel, which sits half a mile along the same causeway road.

Orkney Craft Spirit Producers at a Glance

Where to Buy Orkney Gin and Craft Spirits

All four producers sell online and ship to mainland UK addresses. On the islands, the widest selection is in Kirkwall. Kirkness & Gorie in the town centre is a specialist food and drink shop with a curated and regularly updated gin and spirits section stocking local producers alongside imported labels. The Brig Larder, near the harbour, carries a range of local Orkney produce including gin. The visitor shops at The Orkney Distillery and Deerness Distillery stock their own ranges alongside a selection of other island producers. Bottles also appear in the airport gift shop and in many hotel bars across the Mainland.

For a fuller picture of Orkney’s food and drink scene — the restaurants and bars where these spirits appear on the back bar and in cocktail lists — the guide to the best restaurants in Orkney covers the main options across the islands. If you are still planning your visit, the complete accommodation guide for Orkney covers properties across all locations and budgets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What gin is made in Orkney?

Orkney has three active gin distilleries. Orkney Gin Company (Burray) produces Johnsmas, Mikkelmas, Aatta London Dry, and Rhubarb Old Tom. The Orkney Distillery in Kirkwall makes the Kirkjuvagr range: Origin, Arkh-Angell, Beyla, and Aurora. Deerness Distillery on the East Mainland produces Sea Glass Gin and a rotating Edition Gin series.

Is Orkney Gin Company the same as The Orkney Distillery?

No, they are entirely separate businesses. Orkney Gin Company (Orkney Spirits Ltd) is based in Burray and has no visitor centre. The Orkney Distillery (Kirkjuvagr) is on the Kirkwall waterfront and runs guided tours open to the public. Both produce award-winning gins; both are worth seeking out.

What botanicals are used in Orkney gin?

Orkney gins use a mix of standard gin botanicals and locally foraged or grown ingredients. Kirkjuvagr’s Origin includes Ramanas Rose, burnet rose, and borage. Aatta from Orkney Gin Company uses wild rosehips, vanilla, orange, cinnamon, and spearmint among its eight botanicals. Deerness Distillery’s Sea Glass Gin features citrus and a fresh cucumber and mint finish.

Can I visit a gin distillery in Orkney?

Yes. The Orkney Distillery on the Kirkwall waterfront runs guided tours at 11am and 2pm most days (check ahead on Sundays), including a complimentary gin and tonic. Deerness Distillery has a kitchen and bar open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and on Sundays in summer. J. Gow Rum on Lamb Holm takes visitors Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. Orkney Gin Company in Burray does not operate a visitor centre.

Does Orkney make rum as well as gin?

Yes. J. Gow Rum on Lamb Holm is among Scotland’s most northerly rum distilleries, operating from one of the smallest inhabited islands in the archipelago. Their range runs from Culverin (an unaged white rum at 50% ABV) through Revenge (three years old, ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks) to the Fading Light XO (six years old, chestnut cask, bottled at 53.5% ABV). The Orkney Distillery also produces Man O’ Hoy Spiced Rum, named after the sea stacks on Hoy.

What is the best Orkney gin to buy as a gift?

Aatta London Dry from Orkney Gin Company is a strong choice for gin enthusiasts — the eight-botanical recipe and distinctive bottle design travel well. Orkney Akvavit from the same producer is a more unusual gift, particularly for anyone with an interest in Nordic spirits: back-to-back World’s Best Aquavit wins make it easy to recommend. The Kirkjuvagr Origin is the classic option from the Kirkwall distillery and is widely stocked in island shops and stockists.

When did craft gin distilling begin in Orkney?

Both The Orkney Distillery and Deerness Distillery were founded in 2016, making that year the starting point of Orkney’s modern craft spirits scene. The Orkney Distillery opened its visitor centre in 2018. Orkney Gin Company began producing its seasonal gins around the same period. J. Gow Rum followed as the archipelago’s dedicated rum producer.