Female-led Highland distillery Nc’nean beats fundraising target ahead of launch of whisky

A female-founded Scottish whisky distillery has raised more than £1.7 million from investors to accelerate growth.

Ncnean exceeded its target in just over a week after launching a campaign on crowdfunding platform Seedrs. Picture: Haydon Perrior.

Nc’nean exceeded its target in just over a week after launching a campaign on crowdfunding platform Seedrs with further backing pledged by investors including the Scottish Investment Bank (SIB).

The investment raised will support the launch of the distillery’s first whisky this year as well as growing sales of its existing Botanical Spirit, a whisky-gin hybrid that was launched in 2018.

Annabel Thomas, chief executive and founder of Nc’nean, which is based on an estate at Drimnin on the Morvern peninsula, said the funding success highlighted “overwhelming support” from investors.

“Since inception, we have strived to drive change in the whisky industry through experimental spirits and sustainable production. 2020 will be our most exciting year to date as we introduce our whisky to the world for the first time and continue to grow our business,” she said.

Kerry Sharp, director of the SIB, said: “We are delighted to support this female-led innovative young company, which has a strong commitment to sustainability and is creating additional jobs in a rural area of Scotland.”

The distillery relies on renewable sources for its energy, while leftover grain is fed to the farm’s herd of cows, and waste products are spread on the fields of the Drimnin Estate as fertiliser.

Thomas, who grew up in Essex, was inspired to establish the distillery “to do things differently” in the Scotch sector. It is located on land belonging to her family.

Other distilleries to raise money through crowdfunding include community-owned GlenWyvis.