Whisky firm sets up new gin distillery in Caithness

The new distillery will begin full production of Rock Rose gin from next week. Picture: Rock Rose/Dunnet Bay Distillers

The founders of Bay of Dunnet Distillers announced that work on a new custom-built distillery, which will produce Rock Rose gin at the Bay of Dunnet in Caithness, has been completed.

Martin Murray, co-founder of Bay of Dunnet distillers and an oil and gas professional currently studying for a doctorate in brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University, told the Herald: “Since the new still arrived, we have been making some trials and we look forward to launching Rock Rose at the end of August.

“We aim to make about 700 bottles in every batch, producing about 10,000 bottles a year. The first batch sold out by pre-orders within 48 hours and the second batch is expected to be reelased early next month.”

The bottles of “hand-crafted” gin will change year-on-year due to the climate’s effect on the botanicals that will be used to make the drink in Caithness.

Claire Murray, also a co-founder of Bay of Dunnet distillers, said: “Rock Rose gin was named after our first botanical forage along our Caithness cliffs, where local herbalist Brian Lamb introduced us to Rhodiola Rosea, a rose in the rocks. Our gin uses this Rock Rose and a blend of local and traditional botanicals.”