First Shetland Scotch whisky set to launch

The UK’s most northerly distillery, The Shetland Distillery Company, is preparing to launch the first ever single malt Scotch whisky bottled in Shetland.

Shetland Reel Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a first for the Shetland Islands

Shetland Reel single malt Scotch whisky has been distilled in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, before being bottled in Unst, Shetland Islands, by the Shetland Distilling Company.

The range comprises four different cask strength whiskies, aged in 50-litre octaves, including two refill Scotch whisky casks and two German virgin oak casks.

“This is a hugely exciting development for us and for Scotch whisky,” commented Stuart Nickerson, director of The Shetland Distillery Company. “It literally puts Shetland on the map as far as whisky production is concerned – and for the first time.

“These four casks represent a start to whisky production in Shetland and we have plans to introduce more ‘bottled in Shetland’ Scotch whiskies, with the long term plan being to install our own distillery and start distilling Scotch whisky on Unst.”

Available from September, a total of 21 bottles of a peated whisky have been produced from one of the German oak casks, bottled at 57.5% abv and priced at an RRP of £130 per 700ml bottle.

The other three casks have generated 151 bottles, each of which has an RRP of £100 per 700ml bottle.

Each expression is non-chill-filtered.

The Shetland Distillery Company unveiled its first product last year – Shetland Reel Gin.