Staff at a island gin distillery are working to clear a backlog of orders after a shortage of their specially made bottles stopped production.
Supplies of Isle of Harris Gin were rationed and dwindled rapidly after its bottle manufacturer closed its factory for essential repairs a fortnight ago.
But with the furnaces at Stolzle Glass Group’s factory in Yorkshire back in action, fresh supplies have arrived in the Outer Hebrides and production of the spirit at Tarbert has re-started.
Announcing the temporary rationing last month, distillery managing director Simon Erlanger blamed a combination of the bottle shortage with the “unexpected popularity” of its product.
Sales of the gin were limited to one bottle per person and online customers were advised orders would be delivered “when available.” Bar and restaurants were also offered a one-off refill service.
Yesterday the company said while it had experienced a “perfect storm,” shortages were commonplace in the Outer Hebrides and people were were used to “making do.”
Mr Erlanger said: “It’s been a rather exciting time, dealing with this temporary shortage.
“But Harris folk are not phased by such interruptions and the team in Tarbert are now rolling up their sleeves to clear the huge backlog of orders now that our bottles have landed at the at pier.”
Launched last October, Isle of Harris Gin has won a number of awards and the company recently recruited a fifth distiller. It has also increased the number of staff in its wider team.
