Couple Kate MacDonald and Jonny Ingledew both grew up on North Uist before moving to the mainland to follow their careers. With a background in distilling and brewing, Jonny along with Kate felt the call of the island drawing them back. With a love of island life and with each of their respective families being an integral part of the community on North Uist, they decided the time was right to relocate home and establish a new chapter in both the stories of their families and the island.
Tales and songs of old told of illicit stills used to create whisky that was enjoyed by locals after a long day crofting or fishing so technically the new distillery will be North Uist’s first legal distillery on the island. Kate and Jonny are currently distilling from a temporary location on the island until their new distillery at Nunton Steadings on Benbecula is completed, where there will be gin and whisky production, a shop and cafe along with tours and tasting events for visitors.
Distilled using locally foraged Scottish heather and a variety of traditional gin botanicals including citrus, Downpour Scottish Dry Gin is distilled using a method that retains visible traces of the botanical oils and essences, which results in a slightly cloudy appearance when mixed with tonic. A classic juniper flavour profile that has a big hit of juniper, punchy citrus and a slightly sweet undertone from the use of the Scottish Heather.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Citrus, Scottish Heather
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 46% vol
Goes great with: A slice of lime, tonic and ice.
Downpour Pink Grapefruit Gin is created using the signature Downpour Scottish Dry Gin as the base before being infused with fresh pink grapefruits and a sprinkling of pink peppercorns. The result is a Scottish Gin that’s still got classic gin notes including juniper and citrus but with the addition of zingy grapefruit and a warming spice on the finish.
Key Botanical(s): Pink Grapefruit, Pink Peppercorn, Heather
Gin Style: Distilled
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A slice of pink grapefruit, tonic and ice.
Pepper dulse seaweed from the coast and wild thyme from the croft. Downpour Coast & Croft is a big, bold gin with botanicals you can taste in every drop. A G&T that is drenched in island flavour.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Citrus, Wild Thyme, Pepper Dulse Seaweed
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: Garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme or rosemary or a classic citrus wedge and serve with just a splash of tonic.
North Uist Distillery Co. currently work from their temporary distillery at Bayhead, North Uist. The co-founders Kate MacDonald and Jonny Ingledew carry out all production from this distillery including distillation, filling and bottling. Their new distillery site at Nunton Steadings on Benbecula is currently under development and houses their Downpour Shop, open 10am-5.30pm Mon – Sat during summer and 10am-3pm Mon-Fri during winter with tastings running at least once daily over summer Mon-Fri.
Shop: Yes
Booking: Book a Downpour Gin Tasting here
You can learn more about the maker by clicking the links below.
