First Shetland Scotch whisky set for launch

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

In the long term, the firm is aiming to bring the distilling process to its base on the former RAF Saxa Vord site on the island of Unst.

“This is a hugely exciting development for us and for Scotch whisky,” said 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.”

Some 21 bottles of a peated whisky version of Shetland Reel were poured from one of the two German oak casks that were delivered to Unst.

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.

They have a retail price of £130 each.

The remaining 151 bottles drawn from the other three casks cost £ 100 each.

Each expression is non-chill-filtered.