Stuart and Adelle Brown, the co-founders of Deerness Distillery, were originally living in Australia when the couple decided the time was right for a change. Having travelled the world with their jobs, Stuart as a Chartered Engineer and Adelle as a qualified pharmacist, a change of pace and scene beckoned. They had discussed various ideas for a new business that would allow them to use their work experience, offer a better work-life balance and create employment for others. The couple were avid gin drinkers, witnessed the growing gin scene in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, and found that every bottle of gin had its own story. The couple toyed with the idea of starting a craft distillery that would produce gins, whisky and a range of other spirits.
Stuart and Adelle also knew the perfect place to put down new roots for their young family and establish their dream business. Having visited Orkney on holiday several times, Stuart and Adelle knew the island had the right mix of stunning landscapes and untamed natural beauty, a close-knit community, and a rich history and unique culture. So, in October 2014, the couple and their young family relocated from Australia and settled in the parish of Deerness in Orkney. Stuart used his engineering experience to draw up plans for the distillery. Adelle used her pharmacy background to explore botanicals and learn more about their flavour and aroma compounds.
Work began on the construction of the Deerness Distillery in early 2015 with help from family, friends, and the local community. Everyone involved knew they were helping to create something authentic for the island. The distillery officially opened in 2016, and Stuart and Adelle eventually launched their signature Sea Glass Gin in 2017. Since then, the distillery has released a variety of new Scottish Gin expressions and spirits, all influenced by Orkney’s unique landscape and history. Stuart and Adelle eventually expanded the distillery with a new shop area and more space for production as demand grew for their Scottish Gins, Scottish Vodka and Scottish Liquors.
In 2022, Stuart and Adelle applied for new planning permission to expand the distillery further, enabling the production of whisky and a new restaurant, cafe and bar where visitors could enjoy seasonal menus showcasing local food and drink producers and dishes featuring local ingredients. In 2024, Stuart and Adelle opened the newly expanded distillery alongside the Dashing Deer Kitchen & Bar, marking another key moment in the story of the Deerness Distillery as they embark on their journey to one day producing a range of authentic whisky featuring locally grown crops and spirits influenced by the local climate, stories, folklore and history of the island Stuart and Adelle call home.
Sea Glass Gin is the signature Scottish Gin from Deerness Distillery. Inspired by the local landscape, the aromas and flavour profile evoke the fresh sea breeze on Orkney. The name Sea Glass was inspired by the varied and beautiful sea glass, glass thats been grounded down and shaped the by sea and sand to create beautiful and unique jewel like pebbles that can be found around the beaches and seascapes of Orkney. Although the exact botanicals used are undisclosed the nose and flavours indicate juniper, citrus, coriander and a selection of classic gin botanicals. On the nose, juniper complemented by subtle floral and citrus notes. On the palate, piney fresh juniper leads with earthy spices balanced with floral and bright notes of citrus zest. Refreshing notes of mint and cucumber come through leaving a fresh and drying finish.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Lavender, Lemon Verbena
Gin Style: London Dry Scottish Gin
Strength: 43% ABV
Goes great with: Fresh blueberries, tonic and ice.
This special edition has been created in collaboration with the SCAPA100 initiative with a percentage of the profits going to support the project. Distilled using a variety of botanicals including Juniper, Tarragon, Cassia Bark, Lemon Peel, Chamomile Flower Heads, Green Pepper, Lavender and Mint. The botanicals create a lovely taste of juniper before developing to a spicy, peppery flavour that leads to a fresh lavender mint finish.
Key Botanical(s): Tarragon, Chamomile Flower Heads, Green Pepper, Lavender, Mint
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A slice of orange, elderflower tonic and ice.
Vara in Old Norse means ‘becoming spring’, hence the beautiful puffin illustration. Puffins, or ‘tammie norries’ as they’re known in Orkney, spend most of their life at sea, but they can be found all over the cliffs of Orkney between April and August. Key botanicals include tarragon, rosemary, elderflower, lemon grass and red grapefruit. The gin is infused with pink rose petals post distillation, which is what gives the gin its beautiful pink colour. The gin is described as juniper-led with rosemary, citrus and cardamom undertones and a sweet pink rose finish.
Key Botanical(s): Tarragon, Rosemary, Elderflower, Lemon Grass, Red Grapefruit, Rose Petals
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A twist of lime, elderflower tonic and ice.
The 2024 Edition Gin from Deerness Distillery is the second release in this seasonal, limited edition series of very special Scottish Gins. It features a range of botanicals carefully grown in the Deerness Distillery polytunnel on Orkney, each influenced by the Orcadian weather and climate. Botanicals in the 2024 Edition Gin include lemon peel, French tarragon, lime leaf, mandarin and the showcase botanical, none other than an Orkney-grown pineapple. On the nose, citrus and herbaceous green notes. On the palate, bright, zingy tropical citrus fruits are balanced with savoury and refreshing sage. On the finish, citrus mellows into a vibrant but pleasant aniseed note.
Other releases in this series include: 2023
Key Botanical(s): French Tarragon, Mandarin Peel, Orkney-Grown Pineapple
Gin Style: Distilled Scottish Gin
Strength: 38% ABV
Goes great with: A slice of fresh pineapple, tonic and ice.
The Deerness Distillery is home to a range of traditional Portuguese alembic copper stills used to create various Scottish spirits, including the range of Deerness Distillery Scottish Gins. Visitors can browse the shop, which features a variety of gifts from local makers alongside the full range of Deerness Distillery spirits and branded gifts. The Dashing Deer Kitchen & Bar offers visitors the chance to sit, relax and enjoy a variety of dishes that feature locally grown ingredients along with a selection of cakes, traybakes and tasty treats, the perfect accompaniment with your coffee or tea. The bar also serves a variety of cocktails, serves and more, featuring a carefully selected range of spirits and mixers. Although there are no formal tours, visitors can see the distillery and production area and are encouraged to ask questions as the distillery team is always at hand to help answer and help you learn more about the distillation process and what makes the spirits produced at the Deerness Distillery unique.
Tour: Yes
Cafe: Yes
Bar: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Learn more about Deerness Distillery experiences here
Learn more about Deerness Distillery by visiting the links below.
