Operators of a craft gin distillery in the far north are forging ahead with the next stage of their development – a visitor centre.
Crofter-run Ice and Fire Distillery have applied for planning permission for the attraction near their base in Latheron, south of Wick.
The single storey, rectangular building is earmarked to go up on a tract of agricultural ground at Smerral.
The venture is due to create several jobs.
Last year the firm picked up £70,000 having been named among the winners in the UK’s biggest funding competition for potential high-growth businesses, Scottish Edge, backed by the Hunter Foundation, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
Speaking at the time of the award, founder Jacqueline Black said they were “looking to expand the business with an Illicit Stills visitor centre showcasing the history of crofters and illicit distilling in the Highlands with particular emphasis on Caithness”.
The business was founded in 2018 in part of Jacqueline and Stephen Wright’s home and has won several accolades, including the most promising new business in the annual Caithness Chamber of Commerce awards.
They produce gins as well as rum which uses locally produced honey. Their output is produced, bottled and packaged in the two-bedroom crofthouse and an adjoining shed.
The firm started up four years ago with support from Business Gateway Caithness after Jacqueline’s brother Iain was diagnosed with a rare cancer.
The family wanted a business that would allow Mr Black to work from home and – drawing on historical links the village of Latheronwheel has with spirit-making – came up with the idea of a distillery.
During the pandemic the firm started producing hand sanitiser as a way of thanking the NHS for Mr Black’s care.
The firm also welcomed a funding boost from two local windfarm schemes which enabled the business to take production to “the next level”.
The cash injection from SSE and Eon ensured the company could buy enough ingredients to produce 4,000 litres of hand rub.
Bottles of the sanitiser were distributed by dedicated care groups set up in Caithness to be used by key workers.
Conversation