January 11, 2023 — Malthound

Barra Atlantic Gin

The Isle of Barra Distillers – makers of the award-winning Barra Atlantic Gin – have signed a deal that will see the unique island spirit sold at 120 Waitrose & Partners stores across the UK!

It is the first time a spirit from the Outer Hebrides has been chosen for distribution by a UK-wide supermarket.

Planning permission was granted in December 2022 and construction of the £12m distillery is due to start later this year

This is a massive vote of confidence in our small island business. To say we are delighted is an understatement. This is a big moment for our team here on Barra.

It has always been a goal of ours to share our story and unique island spirit with as many people as possible. This deal gives us exposure to hundreds of thousands of shoppers across the UK in one of the country’s premium stores.
– Michael Morrison: Co-founder & Managing Director

The announcement comes as The Isle of Barra Distillers look to expand their team on the island as they prepare to open the first whisky distillery on Barra. Planning permission was granted in December 2022 and construction of the £12m distillery is due to start later this year.

The progress we’ve made since we decided to set up the business six years ago has been amazing. It reflects the quality of the product, the passion and commitment of our small team and the fantastic support we’ve had from the community here on Barra.
– Katie Morrison: Co-founder

When complete in 2025, the new distillery will be the most westerly in Scotland and able to produce 550,000 bottles of whisky per year, employing up to 41 people, providing a significant boost to the island’s economy. The Isle of Barra is home to 1,200 people and was the location for the Ealing classic movie ‘Whisky Galore’.

Waitrose & Partners is one of the UK’s leading supermarkets. It chooses a select number of high-quality suppliers from across the country to ensure its customers have access to the best produce available. Waitrose & Partners were awarded ‘Spirits Retailer of the Year’ at the Spirit Business Awards in 2022.

The first bottles of Barra Atlantic Gin will be available on Waitrose shelves from January 2023. The 120 stores represent around a third of Waitrose UK total.

Michael and Katie Morrison

About the Isle of Barra Distillers

The Isle of Barra Distillers is a family run distillery located on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

The business was founded in 2017 by islanders Michael and Katie Morrison.

Their first spirit, Barra Atlantic Gin, has won multiple awards including Gold in The Spirits Business Global Spirits Masters and Silver in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The team were also awarded Sales Team of the Year at the Scottish Gin Awards.

In 2022, the company introduced Island Dark Rum and plans to release details of its first premium malt whisky in the near future, following the recent approval of planning for its new distillery.

The business currently employs 6 people.

Sarah Burgess

In a creative shake-up to its whisky-making team, The Lakes Distillery has appointed Sarah Burgess to be its new Whiskymaker!

Former Lead Whiskymaker at The Macallan, Sarah’s time at Edrington focused on whisky range creation, innovation, and quality control for one of the world’s most revered single malts. And it was Sarah’s expertise that helped to design The Macallan Genesis, The Anecdotes of Ages Collection with Sir Peter Blake, and establish a global collaboration with the Pantone Color Institute™.

On leaving her role as creative director at The Craigellachie, where Sarah has been crafting a luxury lifestyle collection of drinks telling the story of Speyside at one of the world’s oldest whisky hotels, Sarah brings more than 25 years of whisky-making passion and knowledge to The Lakes Distillery at a time when they are accelerating production and planning for rapid international growth.

I was intrigued by The Lakes as a new distillery but one creating such high-quality whisky, I am excited to be part of a new and innovative operation and I am sure between my creativity and the quality casks we have in maturation that many great whiskies will follow.
– Sarah Burgess

We are delighted to welcome Sarah to our team. Not only does she bring a wealth of experience and creativity, but Sarah’s inclusive desire to guide, support, and develop our existing whiskymaking team is something we are very excited about.

With an acute understanding of the complete whiskymaking process, Sarah’s hands-on approach to taking concepts from inception through to creation aligns flawlessly with our whiskymaking philosophy. It is a very exciting time for us all.
– Nigel Mills: Co-founder at The Lakes Distillery

Having also worked at Diageo for more than two decades, managing the Oban, Glenkinchie and Clynelish distilleries, Sarah’s love for the whisky industry, and in particular sherry casks, will be invaluable as she takes over the top job from Dhavall Gandhi who, in January 2022, opened an eponymously named whisky consultancy alongside his role at The Lakes.

Dhavall has played an instrumental role in what has been an extraordinary journey for The Lakes over the past five years, culminating in The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4 being named the “World’s Best Single Malt Whisky” at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards.

Dhavall has dedicated himself artistically to the distillery and helped us to forge a clear vision and philosophy for our whiskymaking. For that, we will be forever grateful.
– Tim Farazmand: Chairman at The Lakes Distillery

Sarah Burgess joined The Lakes Distillery on Thursday 5th January, working together with Dhavall to hand over The Lakes’ 2023 bottlings before taking over responsibility for all whiskymaking operations.

Lakes Distillery Whiskies (& Gins) are available to buy from:-

THE LAKES DISTILLERY

On the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, in The English Lake District, The Lakes Distillery design an exceptional collection of spirits and attracts over 30,000 visitors to their whisky distillery each year.

Twice named “one of eight distilleries to visit before you die” by the World Whisky Day campaign, their bistro and distillery tour experience has held Visit England’s Gold accolade since 2018 and was voted the Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year 2019 by Whisky magazine.

In September 2019, the brand unveiled The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1, their first widely available single malt whisky in what has become an internationally award-winning series showcasing their sherry-led signature style.

Named by The London Stock Exchange Group as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2020’, The Lakes’ portfolio of spirits includes single malt whisky, blended whisky, gin, and vodka.

Recently, The Lakes Distillery received the following prestigious awards:

2022: World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4
Outstanding Gold (98/100), International Wine & Spirits Competition: The Lakes Pink Grapefruit Gin.

2021: Best English Blended Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The One Sherry Cask Finished

2020: Best English Single Malt Whisky, World Whiskies Awards: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Gold Award, International Spirit’s Challenge: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Spirit Gold Award (95/100), International Wine & Spirit Competition: The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.1

2019: World’s Best Vodka, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Vodka
World’s Best Chocolate Liqueur, World Vodka Awards: The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur