Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin

What Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin does

The Orkney Distillery (trading as Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin) is a privately held, founder-owned craft spirits producer headquartered in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, operating from a distillery and visitor centre on Ayre Road. Founded by Stephen and Aly Kemp, with Tony Reeman-Clark joining as Director and Distiller, the company hand-crafts small-batch spirits using traditional copper pot stills and locally grown or sourced botanicals, including Angelica, Borage, Ramanas Rose, Burnet Rose, Orcadian honey, and Scottish raspberries. The product portfolio spans a flagship Kirkjuvagr Gin range (Origin, Arkh-Angell Storm Strength, Aurora Winter Spiced, Beyla Honey & Raspberry Old Tom, Yuletide Christmas Spiced, Foy, Northwest Passage, plus a barrel-aged Navy Strength variant), blended malt Scotch whiskies (Fara and Rysa), Man O' Hoy Spiced Rum, and a Tony Negroni ready-to-drink cocktail, alongside gift sets, accessories, and co-branded food products.

Revenue is generated across four streams: unit-priced DTC spirit sales through a Shopify online store and on-site retail at the Kirkwall visitor centre; wholesale through 50+ UK specialist stockists, the Craft Gin Club subscription channel, and Master of Malt for international reach; paid tour experiences (gin tours, whisky tours, and Whisky School programmes at 1-, 3-, and 5-day cadences); and a subscription-style Latitude 59 Club membership that grants cask ownership, equity shareholding, and experiential benefits to a capped 59 members over a 5-year term. The company also operates a coffee and gin bar, festival partnerships (notably Orkney Folk Festival), and digital marketing via blog, email newsletter, and Instagram/Facebook. The company is registered in Scotland as Orkney Distilling Ltd (company number SC525595), is described as one of Scotland's smallest whisky operations, and shows no external venture or private equity investment in the source material.

Name

Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin

Legal name

Orkney Distilling Ltd

Website

https://orkneydistilling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin is a founder-owned craft distillery in Kirkwall, Orkney producing hand-crafted small-batch gin, blended malt whisky, spiced rum, and ready-to-drink cocktails from locally grown botanicals, sold via DTC e-commerce, a visitor centre, UK stockists, and cask-investment club.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Distilled Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Craft Distilleries & Microdistilleries (THAFALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ)

Keywords

• Craft gin distillery
• Scotch whisky production
• Spiced rum blending
• Distillery tours
• Cask investment club

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirkwall

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Spirit Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales of gin (Kirkjuvagr range including Origin, Arkh-Angell, Aurora, Beyla, Yuletide, Foy, Northwest Passage), spiced rum (Man O'Hoy), and blended malt whisky (Fara, Rysa). Products sold in 50cl and 70cl bottles at various price points. Also sells gift sets, accessories, and gin fudge.
2. Distillery Tours and Experiences: Visitors pay for guided distillery tours (gin tours and whisky tours with tastings) at the Kirkwall visitor centre. Also offers Whisky School programs (1-day, 3-day, and 5-day courses). Visitors receive complimentary drinks and shop discounts.
3. Latitude 59 Club Membership: Exclusive whisky cask investment club limited to 59 members. Each member becomes a shareholder and owns one of the first 59 casks produced. Membership includes annual Orkney visits, cask samples, first access to single malt, welcome pack, free tours, and store discounts for the 5-year membership period.
4. Bar and Cafe: Coffee & Gin Bar at the visitor centre serves drinks to visitors overlooking Kirkwall harbour. The bar is open to tourists and locals before or after tours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Orkney Distillery hand-crafts and sells small-batch spirits under the Kirkjuvagr brand, including Orkney gin (Origin, Arkh-Angell Storm Strength, Aurora, Beyla, Yuletide, Northwest Passage, Foy, Barrel Aged Navy Strength), Man O' Hoy spiced rum, Fara and Rysa blended malt Scotch whiskies, and the Tony Negroni bottled cocktail. Products are sold through the company-owned Shopify online store, the on-site Kirkwall visitor centre, and a network of UK stockists. The distillery also operates paid tours, a Whisky School, a bar/café, and the Latitude 59 Club cask investment membership.

Product overview

The Orkney Distillery produces Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin and related spirits as a portfolio of hand-crafted alcoholic beverages. The core offering centers on Kirkjuvagr Gin (including Origin, Arkh-Angell Storm Strength, and seasonal editions like Aurora Winter Spiced, Beyla Honey & Raspberry, Yuletide Christmas Spiced, and Northwest Passage). The distillery has expanded into whisky (Fara and Rysa blended malts) and rum (Man O' Hoy Spiced Rum), plus ready-to-drink cocktails (Tony Negroni), and specialty products including barrel-aged expressions and limited editions. The product range is sold direct-to-consumer through the online store and at the Kirkwall visitor centre, as well as through stockists across the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kirkjuvagr Gin: Signature hand-crafted Orkney gin, the core product line of the distillery.
• Man O'Hoy
• Fara
• Rysa
• Latitude 59 Club
• Whisky School
• Foy Orkney Gin

Products and services

• Kirkjuvagr Origin Gin Flagship hand-crafted Orkney gin featuring botanicals grown locally in Orkney including Angelica, Borage, Ramanas Rose, and Burnet Rose. Forms the foundational recipe for all subsequent Kirkjuvagr gin expressions.
• Arkh-Angell Storm Strength Orkney Gin Navy strength gin at 57% ABV named after a local fishing boat and crafted with locally grown Norwegian Angelica (Archangelica). Pays homage to Orkney's seafaring heritage with notes of pine and a hint of liquorice.
• Aurora Winter Spiced Gin Winter spiced gin inspired by the Aurora Borealis, featuring ground cinnamon, nutmeg, whole cloves, and pink and black peppercorns. Sweet orange and cinnamon open into a warming spicy finish.
• Beyla Honey & Raspberry Old Tom Gin Old Tom style gin named after the Norse goddess of bees. Combines Orcadian honey and Scottish raspberries with the Kirkjuvagr gin recipe for a sweet and fruity profile.
• Yuletide Christmas Spiced Gin Christmas spiced gin with mouth-watering winter spice, fruit and floral notes inspired by Orcadian Christmas traditions and the Orkney archipelago's Viking heritage.
• Northwest Passage Arctic Explorer Gin Special edition gin honouring Arctic explorer Dr John Rae who discovered the last link of the Northwest Passage. Distilled with rare botanicals from the shores of Hudson Bay and Orkney Islands, including Sugar Kelp, Angelica Archangelica, Ramanas Rose, Burnet Rose, lemon peel and calamondin. Percentage of proceeds supports the John Rae Society.
• Origin 100: Centennial Edition Limited commemorative release celebrating the 100th batch of Kirkjuvagr Origin, presented in original branding with Co-director Tony Reeman-Clark's signature on each bottle; positioned as a potential collector's piece.
• Barrel Aged Navy Strength Gin Bottled at 59% ABV (a nod to 59 degrees North), matured for five years in ruby port and bourbon casks before expert blending, producing a rich amber spirit with exceptional depth, smoothness and balance.
• Kirkjuvagr Orkney Foy 2024 Special Edition Special edition gin paying homage to Orkney Folk Festival and the traditional island Foy (night of music and entertainment). Features citrus from Calamondin and locally grown botanicals including Angelica, Aronia, Borage, Meadowsweet, Burnet Rose, Ramanas Rose and Elderflower; festival proceeds go to the festival.
• Man O' Hoy Spiced Orkney Rum Spiced rum inspired by the Man O' Hoy sea stack, one of Scotland's most iconic natural landmarks. Blended with Orcadian botanicals and global spices, offering bright aniseed and spice on the nose and a smooth palate of warm vanilla, orange marmalade and cinnamon.
• Fara Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Small batch, non-peated blended malt Scotch whisky from some of Scotland's finest distilleries including Orkney. Elegantly smooth with sweet notes of heather honey and vanilla complemented by hints of spiced apple. 70cl, 46% ABV.
• Rysa Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Non-chill filtered, peated, small batch blended malt Scotch whisky named after the uninhabited Orkney island of Rysa. Features smokiness with raisin and burnt leather on the nose, gentle peat smoke, crème brûlée and pepper on the palate, and a long finish with light smokiness and lingering dried fruits. 70cl, 46% ABV.
• Tony Negroni Bottled Cocktail Bottled Negroni cocktail combining the classic Italian cocktail (born in Florence 1919) with Kirkjuvagr gin. A ready-to-drink 50cl bottle at 27.5% ABV.
• Latitude 59 Club Cask Investment Membership Exclusive whisky cask investment club limited to 59 members. Each member becomes a shareholder and owns one of the first 59 casks produced at the distillery (each 100-litre cask yielding over 120 bottles at cask strength). 5-year membership includes annual Orkney visits, cask samples, first access to single malt, welcome pack, free tours, and store discounts.
• Kirkjuvagr Gin Gift Set Trio of premium gin miniatures showcasing the Kirkjuvagr journey including Kirkjuvagr Origin, Arkh-Angell and Beyla, with 5cl miniatures of each.
• Whisky and Rum Gift Set Trio of premium dark spirit miniatures including Fara (non-peated blended malt whisky), Rysa (lightly peated blended malt whisky), and Man O' Hoy Spiced Rum, with 5cl miniatures of each.
• Distillery Tours and Whisky School Paid guided distillery tours (gin tours and whisky tours with tastings) at the Kirkwall visitor centre plus Whisky School programmes (1-day, 3-day, and 5-day courses). Includes a complimentary drink and 10% shop discount for tour participants, and up to 50% off via the VisitScotland Great Days Out campaign.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100th batch milestone reached
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orkney Folk FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 February 2025Official partner of Orkney Folk Festival and producer of the official festival gin (Kirkjuvagr Orkney Foy). Partnering with street food caterer Beiting and Brew to provide food and drink over the 4-day festival. The distillery operates the Lounge venue at Stromness Community Centre during the festival.
• Craft Gin ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2024Craft Gin Club selected Kirkjuvagr Yuletide Christmas Gin as their December Gin of the Month after reviewing hundreds of contenders. The club played a key role in helping with development and launch by showcasing it to their nationwide membership.
• John Rae SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Northwest Passage Arctic Explorer Gin supports the John Rae Society through percentage of proceeds from each bottle sold. The partnership helps fund conservation of The Hall of Clestrain, birthplace and childhood home of Arctic explorer John Rae.
• Zak Johnson (Local Graphic Designer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with local graphic designer Zak Johnson on the design and branding of Man O'Hoy Spiced Rum. The colour palette and wave motif nod to the Kirkjuvagr gin range while signalling something different.
• Beiting and BrewminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStreet food caterer partnering with The Orkney Distillery to provide food and drink at the Orkney Folk Festival Lounge venue.
• Orkney Isles PreservesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrkney Isles Preserves on Shapinsay island produces Beyla Raspberry Jam using the signature sweetness of Beyla Old Tom Gin. A co-branded product available through the distillery's online store.
• VisitScotland / Great Days Out In ScotlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDistillery tours offered at up to 50% discount as part of the 'Great Days Out In Scotland' campaign delivered by VisitScotland.
• Master of MaltminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational shipping partner referenced for customers outside the UK who wish to purchase Kirkjuvagr gin products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Highland Park Distillery: Established Orkney-based single malt whisky producer with strong Viking heritage narrative. Comparable as the incumbent Orkney distillery sharing the same Norse/Orcadian storytelling that Orkney Distilling built its brand around.
• Caorunn Gin: Scottish craft gin produced by Inver House Distillers, featuring locally sourced botanicals. Comparable as a Scottish craft gin with botanical-led positioning and national distribution; sits as a broader-portfolio competitor in the same category.
• Scapa Distillery: Orkney-based single malt whisky producer. Comparable as the second established Orkney distillery, demonstrating the heritage region context in which Orkney Distilling is launching its first new Orkney malt in 140 years.

Direct peers

• Torabhaig Distillery: Isle of Skye craft distillery focused on single malt with a visitor centre and tasting room. Comparable as a Scottish island craft distillery building a heritage-led brand with limited release structure and tourism pillar.
• Tarquin's Gin (Southwestern Distillery): Cornwall-based craft gin distillery producing hand-crafted small-batch gin with a visitor centre. Comparable as an independent UK craft gin distillery with founder-led, small-batch, locally inspired positioning and DTC distributions.
• Sipsmith: London-based craft gin distillery with on-site tours and a tasting room. Comparable as a small-batch craft gin distillery that built a brand via visitor experience and selective distribution before scaling internationally.
• Edinburgh Gin: Scottish craft gin distillery with a visitor centre, tours, and tours/tastings offering. Comparable as a UK craft gin producer with diversified gin range, on-site hospitality, and trade/wholesale distribution.
• Isle of Arran Distillers: Scottish island (Isle of Arran) craft distillery producing single malt whisky with a visitor centre. Comparable as a small island craft distillery that has scaled malt-led brand recognition through tourism and selective distribution.
• Isle of Harris Distillers: Scottish island craft distillery producing gin (Hearach) and single malt whisky, with a visitor centre and tour model. Highly comparable given the parallel island craft distillery, gin + whisky portfolio, and tourism-led revenue mix.

Emerging players

• NB Gin: Small UK craft gin distillery based in North Berwick, Scotland. Comparable as a small premium Scottish craft gin with growing stockist presence and tourism/chef partnerships, operating at a similar scale to Orkney Distilling.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theorkneydistillery
• Instagraminstagram.com/orkneydistillery
• Xx.com/Kirkjuvagr_Gin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orkney-distilling-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin