Today is 1 year since we launched the Isle of Lewis Gin! We can’t quite believe it’s been a whole year… and what a year it’s been!
We’ve got lots to look back on and be proud of. It’s not always been easy but we’re so happy to be where we are and feel grateful to have the opportunities we’ve had. Some achievements to mention: selling out our first batch in two days, our second batch then selling out in three, winning two awards at the gin cooperative awards, being finalists in the Scottish Gin awards, selling our gin at Hebcelt festival and selling out, being featured in British Vogue and setting up our distillery at our home in Uig on the Isle of Lewis.
The last few weeks have been pretty busy and exciting. Last week we got glammed up for the Scottish Gin Awards in Glasgow - we were over the moon to be finalists and went along with no expectations to win anything. We just wanted to have fun and that we did! It was a brilliant night and it was so great to meet lots of people in the industry. Some people we had already connected with but hadn’t met until then and lots of new connections too. It’s such a fun and fabulous event and we hope to be there next year again.
The week before the Scottish Gin Awards, Iain travelled down to Somerset (an absolute trek) to collect our new still. It was a terrible week for weather with storms affecting the ferries, of course, so it was a bit stressful getting off the Island. We’re so excited that the final piece of our little distillery over in Uig is in place. This is such a massive deal for us as we didn’t expect to be in this position so soon.
Thank you to everyone on and off the island who have bought a bottle of our gin as you’ve been a big part of getting us to where we are now and we are so grateful. Mary and Iain at the island spirit whisky shop in Stornoway and Alison and the team at the Uig community shop deserve a special mention too, they’ve been an integral part of our journey and we couldn’t have done it without them and their support. To our family and friends who have been the most wonderful and incredible support on this journey from the minute we told them we wanted to launch a gin - thank you and we love you, we couldn’t have done it without you. We are beyond grateful to have so much love and support in friends, family and community.
We have lots of exciting plans for the next year and we can’t wait to share those with you. Thank you for coming along on this journey with us…
Slàinte mhath,
Iain & Laura x