Draft body copy:
Perched on Kirkwall’s historic harbourfront, Orkney Distillery began life in 2018 as home to the award-winning Kirkjuvagr gin range, before founders Stephen and Aly Kemp turned their attention to whisky. Licences to distil Scotch were granted in September 2023, and the distillery’s first whisky mash and distillation took place on International Whisky Day, 27 March 2024 – a long-held ambition finally realised.
While their own single malt rests in cask for its minimum three years, Orkney Distillery has introduced whisky drinkers to two blended malt Scotch expressions: Fara, an unpeated dram with notes of heather honey and vanilla, and Rysa, a peated release built around smoke, dried fruit and crème brûlée sweetness. Both are crafted from a blend of malts from across Scotland’s Island whisky region and beyond, including Orkney’s own new-make spirit.
The distillery sits a short walk from Kirkwall’s town centre, not far from fellow Orkney producers Highland Park and Scapa, and offers a visitor centre, café bar, and distillery tours – making it an easy addition to an Orkney whisky-touring itinerary. As one of Scotland’s newest whisky producers, its own single malt is expected to become available once maturation requirements are met, likely no earlier than 2027.
Orkney Distillery Whiskies:
- Fara – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 70cl. Unpeated, with heather honey, vanilla and spiced apple notes.
- Rysa – Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 70cl. Peated, non-chill filtered, with smoke, raisin, burnt leather and crème brûlée.
- Single malt whisky is currently maturing following first distillation in March 2024; not yet released.
Distillery info:
Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Orkney Distillery |
| Region | Island |
| Logo |  |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Water source | ? |
| Owned by | Orkney Distilling Limited (Stephen & Aly Kemp) |
| Address |
Ayre Road, |
| Visitor centre | Yes |
| Website | https://www.orkneydistilling.com |
| https://www.twitter.com/kirkjuvagr_gin | |
| https://www.facebook.com/theorkneydistillery | |
| Community | N/A |
| Map |
Distillery Setup:
Component |
Capacity |
Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Mash tun | ? | ? |
| Washback | ? litres | ? |
| Wash still | ? litres | ? |
| Spirit Still | ? litres | ? |
| Expected yearly output in LPA (Litres of pure alcohol) | 30,000 |