Deerness Distillery

About the distillery

Deerness Distillery is located on Deerness in Orkney, and is a self-built, family-owned distillery that combines spirit production with visits, a shop, and a place to eat. Here, handmade gin, vodka, whisky, and liqueurs are produced, and the venue is especially interesting for whisky lovers because whisky production was first expanded in 2024 with three new copper stills. At the same time, the connection to the islands is clearly evident in both the raw materials, the name, and the coastal location.

History

Deerness Distillery was founded in 2016 as a self-built, family-owned project in Orkney. The name is taken from the Parish of Deerness, which is associated with red deer skulls found at Brough of Deerness, and this local rootedness remains part of the distillery’s identity. Over the years, the business grew from a small setup to a more comprehensive production, and in 2024 a significant step was taken with an expansion that included, among other things, a dedicated still room and three new copper stills for whisky production. That same year, Dashing Deer Kitchen & Bar opened, so visitors can now combine tastings with food and views. A previous news post from 2022 shows that the whisky plans had long been part of the work before the actual production got underway.

Raw materials and production

Production is based on craftsmanship and manual work. The distillery describes itself as self-built and family-owned, and the entire process is carried out by hand—from recipe development and distillation to bottling, labelling, and waxing. Gin is made in Portuguese copper alembic stills, and one of them, Matilda, is used to distill the gin by hand. Botanicals sit in grain neutral spirit for a measured time, after which the liquid is heated, the alcohol evaporates, and it is led through the swan neck and condensing column before the distillate is collected. After distillation, the strength is adjusted with clean Orcadian water, which is purified with reverse osmosis filtration. To seal the still, rye dough is used around the still head and base, so that valuable vapors don’t escape. In 2024, three new copper stills for whisky production were added, but the specific processes for the mash, fermentation, and the own whisky are not described further in the provided material.

Whiskies

The current range is broad, but for whisky the selection in the provided material is still very limited. The clearest whisky release is Deer Sound Blended Scotch Whisky, while the other documented products are mainly gin, vodka, and a coffee liqueur. Deerness also works with collections such as Dram Collection and Gin Collection, where you can taste different spirits in smaller bottles. For whisky enthusiasts, it gives a picture of a distillery that is in the process of establishing its own whisky story, but that still stands strongest on the handmade, botanical spirits.

The style and tasting profile of the whiskies

The style across the documented products is fresh, coastal, and clearly botanical. Sea Glass Gin is described with a juniper-forward character, bright citrus, and a finishing touch of cucumber and mint. Scuttled Gin is warm and slightly spicy, while Vára Gin goes in a floral direction with rose, cardamom, citrus, rosemary, and vanilla. 2025 Edition Gin adds maritime and herbal notes to the picture with chamomile, lavender, rosemary, mandarin leaf, and bay leaf. The first whisky release is closer to the classic and shows caramel, warm spices, honey, orchard fruits, and a hint of smoke.

Visit the distillery

The distillery can be visited, and the public is offered guided tasting tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The tour lasts around an hour and includes a tasting of three pours, after which there is time to look around the shop and get 10% off full-size Deerness products. You can choose between The Gin Journey and The Whisky Experience; the latter culminates in a first look at the distillery’s own inaugural make. There are also drivers’ drams for later, and the option to book a table for lunch at Dashing Deer Kitchen & Bar before or after the tour. Prices are £20 for a gin tasting and £30 for a whisky tasting.

The stated opening hours are: Guided tasting tours are offered Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The session lasts around an hour, and afterwards there is time to visit the shop. A table for lunch can also be booked before or after the tour. Dashing Deer Kitchen & Bar opened in 2024.
See times and book a visit.

Philosophy and craftsmanship

Deerness Distillery works from a clear craftsmanship philosophy, where everything is made by hand and is closely connected to the place in Orkney. The distillery emphasizes small-batch production, in-house recipe development, and a local identity that is also reflected in the ingredients. In 2023 Edition Gin, almost all botanicals are grown on-site, and in 2025 Edition Gin, botanicals come from its own botanical polytunnel, carried by the salty sea air. Even the labels are designed in-house, and it all points to a practice where craftsmanship, place, and personal involvement are the driving forces.

Sustainability

Eco-friendly packaging used for 2023 Edition Gin.
Labels are printed on premium recycled paper for 2023 Edition Gin.

Prices and awards

• Great British Food Awards (2020, Winner, Into The Wild Vodka)

• Great Taste (2019, 2-Star, Into The Wild Vodka)

Latest news

Whisky plans for Orkney distillery – 2022-05-30

A post says that the distillery had set out to be able to make whisky on site and described the work toward the upcoming whisky production.