Honey combines with berries to form a new gin

Orkney Distilling is set to launch a new Old Tom style pink gin that combines rare Orcadian honey with fresh Scottish raspberries.

This marks the fifth offering from the award-winning Kirkwall based company.

Beyla – named after the Norse goddess of bees – continues Orkney Distilling’s distinctive brand themes, which draw inspiration from the Viking and seafaring heritage of the islands.

The Orcadian honey being used in Beyla comes from bees that frequent Orkney Distilling’s own garden in Kirkwall, where the company grows key botanicals used in the production of its gins.

Orkney Distilling’s managing director, Stephen Kemp, said: ‘Orkney provenance is hugely important to us, across all elements of our business, from the inspiration for our branding to our locally grown botanicals.

‘In Norse mythology, Beyla was the goddess of bees, with a strong connection to the earth, and we share that bond with the Orkney landscape.

‘When we learned that one of our friends, who is a local beekeeper, was producing honey from bees flying a path over, and frequenting, our botanical crops, we jumped at the chance to incorporate it into our latest gin. It just deepens the significance of the product in terms of how it connects with our brand themes and ideals. We also believe customers appreciate the authentic provenance and quality of our ingredients.’

Fresh Scottish raspberries bring extra fruitiness and colour to the 40-per-cent (ABV) Beyla – developed from Orkney Distilling’s signature Kirkjuvagr Gin – while balancing the sweetness brought by the island honey.

Stephen, who along with wife Aly opened the Orkney Distillery in the summer of 2018, added: ‘Our range now offers something for all seasons and tastes, from our original Kirkjuvagr and the storm-strength Arkh-Angell, to the summery Harpa and our spiced Aurora.

‘Beyla is our first move into the fruit gin market and is a spirit that both holds its own as a distinctive new offering to the marketplace, while also seamlessly fitting in with our developing range.’

Beyla will be officially launched to coincide with World Gin Day, on Saturday 8 June.

The gin will be available from Orkney Distilling’s online shop, within the company’s Kirkwall distillery and visitor centre and from quality independent retailers across the country.