We're delighted to announce that the North Uist Distillery visitor centre at Nunton Steadings is back in action, ready to tantalise your taste buds with delicious guided Downpour tastings, fulfil your take-home gin needs at the Downpour gin shop, and serve you up ice cold G&Ts with a warm island welcome at the Island Life Bar. It's time to sip, savour, and soak in the flavours of our award winning Downpour gin range at their island home in the Outer Hebrides.
While the visitor centre is open for tastings, the rest of the building is closed for some exciting renovations. We're gearing up for the arrival of our whisky equipment in the coming weeks, so get ready for even more delicious spirits to come your way. It's all part of our commitment to bringing you the best drinks that deliver the unique flavour of our beloved Hebridean islands.
So, what are you waiting for? Come on down to the Downpour gin shop and Island Life Bar to get drenched in island flavour. Whether you're a gin enthusiast or just looking for a fun time while visiting beautiful Uist, we've got something for everyone.
Cheers to good times and great spirits!
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We love a cocktail tailored to a specific occasion, and it doesn't get much more specific than this once-every-1461-days tipple, created by cocktail legend Harry Craddock for the London Savoy's leap year celebrations in 1928.
A classic combination of gin, lemon, Grand Marnier, and Italian vermouth, The Leap Year's appearance in the 1930 Savoy's Cocktail Book was accompanied by a note stating that it was said to be responsible for more marriage proposals than any other cocktail ever mixed.
So while we definitely recommend taking advantage of the rare opportunity to indulge in a Leap Year Cocktail on the day for which it was created, drink responsibly and consider consider yourself warned of its potent effects!
Here is the recipe as it appeared in the 1930 Cocktail bible, Savoy's Cocktail book
With our Year Two cask offer going live last week, it was another exciting evening here at North Uist Distillery and a thrilling step along our Nunton Whisky journey.
We are absolutely delighted by the overwhelming response and would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new cask owners and a massive thank you to everyone who took part in and spread the word of the release.
Although we haven't started distilling just yet, we are well on our way to making our dreams (and drams) a reality. Renovations are currently underway in our historical island building to accommodate the arrival of our stills. We can't wait to get started this summer, bringing you the finest field to glass, bere barley whisky from the heart of Uist.
Purchasing a cask is a unique opportunity for whisky enthusiasts to become a part of our distillery's story. By becoming a cask owner, you not only secure your own supply of premium Hebridean whisky but also become an integral part of our journey from the very beginning. As a cask owner, you will have the chance to witness the entire process, from the renovation of our building to the distillation and maturation of your very own whisky.
With the cask offer sold out, our focus now shifts to the next phase of our journey. The renovations have begun, and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our stills from manufacturers Forsyths. Once they are in place and Nunton and commissioning has taken place. we will be ready to begin distilling our exceptional whisky from our beautiful locally grown heritage grain.
We can't wait for the sweet smells of malted barley to fill the air while the sound of liquid flows through the stills, and we welcome whisky fans from the world over to our island home to visit the casks stacked high in the stables.
We are excited to have you on this whisky journey with us, and we can't wait to raise a glass of our finest bere barley whisky together.
Slàinte!
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While there's a bunch of great things to look forward to this year, there’s one upcoming milestone that the whole team is more than a little excited about, whisky time!
With our equipment arriving in the early spring, we’re all counting down the days until we can unwrap those shiny new stills and watch them be lowered into place at Nunton. These gleaming beauties will be the heart and soul of our whisky production, transforming our carefully selected, machair-grown, heritage bere barley into the liquid gold that will fill our first ever casks.
If you weren’t lucky enough to get your hands on a cask early last year (and selling out faster than a seagull after a bag of chips, it's no surprise that many missed out) we have great news, our Year 2 cask offer will be going live in the coming weeks.
Picture this: you, sitting in your favourite armchair, sipping on a glass of the finest whisky, knowing that it was crafted from beginning to end right here in Uist. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? Well, it's about to become a reality!
North Uist Distillery is all set to release our Year 2 cask offer, and let me tell you, it's going to be a barrel of fun! Whether you missed out last year or you're just looking to expand your whisky collection, this is your chance to become a proud owner of a cask filled with Year 2 liquid Hebridean gold.
Now, you might be wondering, "Why should I get a cask? Can't I just buy a bottle from the shop?" Well, my friend, let me enlighten you. Owning a cask is like having your own personal whisky time machine. You get to witness the magic of maturation as the whisky ages gracefully, developing complex flavours and aromas that will make your taste buds dance with joy.
Not only that, but you also become part of the whisky-making process. You'll receive regular updates from us here at the distillery, keeping you in the loop about the progress of your precious cask. You can even come on holiday and visit it for a wee tasting! It's like being part of an exclusive club, where you can proudly say, "I own a cask of North Uist Distillery whisky."
Alright, here's the deal. The Year 2 cask offer will be going live in the coming weeks, and you better be ready to pounce on it like a hungry otter on a fish.
Now, we must warn you, these casks are in high demand. Last year, they sold out faster than you can say "Slàinte Mhath" So, make sure you're prepared. Have your fingers at the ready, your credit card details memorised, and your lucky charm by your side. It's going to be a race against time, my friend.
While we'll be announcing the sale on social media, the best way to make sure that you're ready when the time comes with your finger hovering over the button is to make sure that you are on our exclusive Whisky Mailing List. This is different from the Island Dispatch list in that it is solely whisky news for whisky fans. Drop us an email to hello@northuistdistillery.com asking to be added and we'll make sure you're on there.
So, my fellow whisky enthusiasts, get ready for the ride of a lifetime. North Uist Distillery is about to embark on another whisky adventure, and you don't want to miss out. Sign up today for the chance to secure your very own cask of North Uist Distillery whisky. It's time to make your whisky dreams come true!
]]>2023 has been an incredible year for us here at North Uist Distillery, filled with fantastic achievements, both big and small! From launching a new bottle to expanding our team, we have a lot to celebrate. Join us as we take a look back at our year in numbers and reflect on the milestones we've reached. Here are a few highlights, but check out the graphic for the full rundown!
The number of bottles of Downpour filled by hand at our distillery home here in the Outer Hebrides. Crafted with the finest, local, hand gathered and bartered botanicals and distilled with passion, Downpour continues to Make It Rain with gin enthusiasts the world over.
Visitors to our island home at Nunton Steadings in Benbecula. Our visitor centre, shop and Island Life Bar have been serving up ice cold G&Ts (1035) custom cocktails (557 of them), and tantalising tastings (582) to thirsty gin fans with a warm island welcome at our historic home in the beautiful Outer Hebrides.
Awards won. Including the title of Scottish Gin Distillery of the year for a second year running! Other awards have included Spirit of the Year, Old Tom Gin of the Year, New Product of the Year, among lots of glittering others. It's always an honour to win an award, and fantastic to be recognised by the industry for the hard work of the team and the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of Downpour gin!
B Corp Certification. North Uist Distillery has always been committed to sustainability. This year, we took another step towards our goal for a greener future and were recognised with a B Corp Certification, for our efforts in environmental and social sustainability.
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Hey there, gin enthusiasts! We've got some exciting news to share with you. Drumroll, please... We've just been crowned the Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Gin Awards for the second year running!
First things first, let's talk about what sets our gin apart from the rest. Our team of dedicated distillers and bottlers pour their heart and soul into every batch, creating our signature Downpour of island flavour with hand gathered and bartered Hebridean botanicals.
But it's not just about the gin itself, we believe that the experience of enjoying a good drink goes beyond what's in the (showstopping) bottle. That's why we've worked so hard to provide the best service we possibly can to each and every customer, and to create an unforgettably warm and friendly island atmosphere at our visitor centre at Nunton.
Of course there's also our dedication to doing the best we can for our team, our community and the planet. Our recent B Corp accreditation went a long way to show that we're walking the walk as well as talking the talk where sustainable, ethical and equitable practise is concerned!
As the 2022 title holders, we attended the dazzling award ceremony ready to hand over the crown to one of the other fantastic distilleries nominated for Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year. In a glitzy ballroom filled with gin aficionados, all eagerly awaiting the announcement, the excitement in the air was palpable as the presenter opened the envelope and... revealed our name! Cue the confetti cannons and the sound of champagne corks popping and as we made our way to the stage the room erupted in applause. It was a moment of pure joy and pride for our entire team.
After the awards ceremony, we celebrated in true gin-lover fashion and the dance floor became our stage. Let me tell you, gin and dancing are a match made in heaven. We busted out some moves that would make even the most seasoned dancers jealous.
Now that we've secured the title of Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year for the second time, we're not going to be getting complacent! We're already brainstorming new projects and collaborations to showcase the delights of Downpour gin while we also get ready for a big year at the distillery as we branch out into the world of whisky too.
Most importantly, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. Without our amazing gin-loving community, none of this would be possible. So here's to you, our fellow gin enthusiasts. Slàinte!
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It's been an exciting time here at North Uist Distillery as we've been working to take Downpour international. Our prince of project management Ali has been globetrotting, from Italy to Germany, via France, representing Downpour and serving up a blast of island flavour at some of the continent's best drinks trade shows and festivals.
Thanks to the combined efforts of Ali, our excellent expert exporter, and the team back home who have been busy distilling, bottling and packaging up pallets for our far flung friends, Downpour is now available in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, and British Columbia. Drop us an email to find out how to buy a bottle in any of those locations.
While Ali takes Europe by storm, gin ambassador and visitor centre virtuoso Hazel is heading even further afield, making it rain in the Middle East at The Big Taste show. As Dubai gets ready to host Cop28 at the end of the month, the city is focused on sustainability and our recent B Corp certification gave us the honour of being selected to be a part of this prestigious global event.
Where will it be next for Destination Downpour!
]]>We are thrilled to let you know that after a rigorous and lengthy process, North Uist Distillery Co is now B Corp certified!
It has always been our mission to put people and planet on an equal level of importance with profit, and B Corp Certification is an official recognition that we’re actually doing it!
B Corp Certification is awarded by B Lab to for-profit companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability; companies that commit to regular, rigorous analysis of their business practises and make the results available to anyone who wants to read them.
There are 1500 B Corporations in the UK (a country with 4,894,356 registered businesses, for a little perspective!) and our B Corp Champion Leonie has spent the last year working through the application, looking in depth at every area of the business from employee relations to customer care, community impact to environmental stewardship, and guiding us towards improvement in all of the above. We are beyond thrilled that all of her hard work has paid off and that we are now part of a community dedicated to transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.
Certification isn’t the end of the B Corp journey though. Our credentials will be reassessed every three years to make sure that we continue to meet B Lab’s standards, and we are committed not only to maintaining our score but improving it year on year.
We could not have done this without a massive collaborative effort, from the Downpour Team to our investors; our local community to our incredible and dedicated customers, supporters, cheerleaders and superfans; and especially to the businesses who have gone before us and advised us along the way as we applied for certification. A million thank yous to everyone who has joined our project to create not just beautiful spirits and a company our island can be proud of, but a force for good within our own industry and business as a whole. Thank you!
B Corp certification depends on a rigorous scoring system. The median score for uncertified businesses is 50.9, the minimum for B Corp certification is 80, and we achieved a score of 91.3. A massive achievement for our first certification, and at this early stage in our distillery journey!
There are four areas on which a B Corp application is assessed; Governance, Community, Workers, Environment.
Strong governance is the foundation of any business and we have worked hard to make sure that social and environmental performance are at the heart of North Uist Distillery’s decision making. Operating from our company code of ethics which informs the direction that that we move in, greenhouse gas emissions, packaging lifecycle management, water management, product quality, and the environmental and social impacts of our supply chain are core areas that the entire team are focused on improving.
Our workers are the forward face and the hidden vital organs of our business, and being the best employers that we can be has been a core goal since North Uist Distillery was first imagined. We invest time and money in making sure that our team are well supported in their roles, with external professional development opportunities, Gaelic lessons for those who wish to improve their language skills, and a free counselling service for whoever might need it. Our workers are more than employees, they are shareholders in the business and we make sure that their investment of time, energy and passion never goes unvalued.
Our place in the community and our responsibilities towards it are deeply important to us at North Uist Distillery. Operating at the heart of a small island with a strong community spirit is foundational to our company practise and we nurture that relationship in any way we can. From offering our staff paid time off to volunteer in the community to offering our space at Nunton for community events, from swapping gin for locally foraged botanicals to using local suppliers whenever we can, community will always be a priority for us at North Uist Distillery.
A commitment to the environment has been at the heart of our business mission since day one, and while we have already committed to sustainable product design and packaging, an electric vehicle, and recycling our waste, the B Corp certification process has pushed us to take our commitments as far as we possibly can. We have set up an Environmental Management System which includes monitoring our energy and water use and our waste production and has been certified by Green Small Business. We’ve calculated our carbon footprint for Scopes 1,2 and 3 have been working with the University of the Highlands and Islands who have put together an emissions report for our soon to commence whisky production. It’s with great excitement about the next stages of our distillery journey that we strengthen our commitment to doing the best we can for the environment.
B Corp Movement from B Lab on Vimeo.
]]>Join us at the Island Life Bar, Saturday October 21st, for a night of delicious cocktails and mocktails.
Tickets cost £10 and include a welcome cocktail, and canapés from Charlie's Bistro in Benbecula. Cocktails, G&Ts and whiskies. After your welcome drink gins, whiskies and cocktails will be available from the bar.
COCKTAILS £9
Downpour Mojito
A double serve of Downpour Coast & Croft Gin, lime juice, Fever Tree Mexican Lime Soda, simple syrup. Served in a Fiesta glass with fresh mint & lime.
Island Breeze
A double serve of Downpour Scottish Dry Gin, lemon juice, rosemary infused syrup, Fever Tree Grape & Apricot Soda. Served in a tall glass with fresh rosemary.
Pink Grapefruit Fizz
A double serve of Downpour Pink Grapefruit Gin, simple syrup, Fever Tree Pink Grapefruit Soda & Premium Indian Tonic Water. Served in a tall glass with a slice of lime.
Sloe & Bramble Sour
A double serve of Downpour Sloe & Bramble Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, aquafaba, shaken & served in a short glass with a twist of lemon peel.
MOCKTAILS £5
Wild Spritz
Wild Eve, Fever Tree Grape & Apricot Soda, grenadine. Served in a tall glass with fresh raspberries.
Not Toddy
Fever Tree Ginger Ale, rosemary infused syrup, lemon juice. Served in a tall glass with a twist of lemon peel and fresh thyme.
Pink Fizz
Fever Tree Pink Grapefruit Soda & Premium Indian Tonic Water, simple syrup, grenadine. Served in a tall glass with a slice of fresh lemon.
It’s been an exciting twelve months for our whisky journey here at North Uist Distillery. With distilling equipment ordered, our cask offer sold out and the bere barley ripening on the machair, it really feels like time to celebrate!
As part of the Hebridean Whisky Festival we will be throwing open the doors at Nunton on September 4th and welcoming whisky lovers from near and far to Nunton Steadings for a day of tastings, tours, and much much more and we're sending you this whisky dispatch with the programme of events.
Tours will be held throughout the day, with our dream team leading visitors through the history of Nunton and the future of North Uist Distillery whisky. See our historic island home, visit the fields where our bere barley will be grown, learn about the grain to glass process that will make our Hebridean whisky so very special and ask all of your burning questions to our distiller and NUD co-founder Jonny.
Join us for ticketed whisky tastings with our very special guest, Iain Faller from Island Spirit Whisky Shop in Stornoway. Iain will be leading this Hebridean whisky tasting exploring the flavours and tasting notes of four Hebridean Whiskies. There will be two tastings throughout the day, one at 12pm and one at 2pm, and the selected whiskies will be for sale after the tasting.
Grab a drink and pull up a pew for our free 3pm screening of Hebridean whisky cinema classic, Whisky Galore. The film will be shown in the main hall at Nunton, right in the very spot where our own whisky will soon be flowing.
Based on Compton MacKenzie’s 1947 novel, Whisky Galore tells the story of the SS Politician, which ran aground in 1941 on the island of Eriskay with a cargo that included 28,000 cases of malt whisky. At the height of wartime rationing and with government officials keen to reclaim their cargo, it is needless to say that chaos ensued.
(We will be showing the 1949 version. A poll was held, opinions were had, judgements were questioned, and the OG film won with a landslide 338 votes to 30. Thank you to everyone who took part.)
We will be joining the other five distilleries that make up the Hebridean Whisky Trail on Saturday September 9th, for the ultimate celebration of Hebridean whisky at Talisker in Skye. The festival finale will see all six distilleries pitched up in the breathtaking location and offering whisky lovers the chance to sample all of their offerings. We will be there with the award winning Downpour Gin range and look forward to seeing you there!
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It's finally here! Our same classic ready to drink Oak Aged Negroni, in a beautiful new bottle to match the rest of the Downpour range.
It was back in the early days of the first lockdown, as a homemade cocktail craze swept the nation, that we were inspired to create a ready-to-drink edition of our favourite cocktail, the classic Italian aperitivo, Negroni.
March was B Corp month, and our social media feeds were full of inspiring companies from around the world whose determination to make a positive mark on the world has earned them B Corp status.
It's fitting then that March was also the month that saw us submit our very own B Impact Assessment - the epic application form detailing how here at the distillery we are putting our commitment to the highest levels of social and environmental performance into action.
It will be some time until our application is assessed and we find out if we can join the ranks of B Corp certified businesses, but in the meantime we are enormously grateful to everyone who has offered us advice and guidance along the way. The process of filling in the rigorous impact assessment has highlighted the importance of making even the smallest changes to how we work, whether that's taking part in No Mow May or making our spent botanicals available for composting in order to make as positive a mark on the planet as we can.
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Downpour Gin is stocked in various shops across the UK. This is a list of selected stockists, some stock the whole Downpour range while others only stock selected flavours. Some outlets may be out of stock or no longer stocking Downpour, so please check directly before making a journey specifically.
Downpour Gin can be ordered direct from our site, with free post and packaging throughout the UK.
List last updated June 2023
LEWIS
HARRIS
An Clachan Harris Community Shop
Berneray
NORTH UIST
BENBECULA
North Uist Distillery Visitor Centre
SOUTH UIST
ERISKAY
BARRA
Isle of Skye Candle Company, Portree
Isle of Skye Distillers co, Portree
Rankins Supermarket, Uig
The Misty Bottle, Breakish
Uig Filling Station, Uig
Oban Whisky and Fine Wines, Oban
Simpsons Garden Centre, Inverness
WoodWinters Wines and Whiskies, Inverness
The Kintyre Larder, Campbelltown
The Storehouse, Ross-shire
The Whisky Castle, Tomintoul
Gordon and MacPhail, Elgin
Browns Tobermory, Mull
Gairloch Farm Shop, Gairloch
Househill Farm Shop, Nairn
Salen Jetty Shop, Acharacle
Curious Liquids, Glasgow
The Good Spirits Co, Glasgow
Valhalla’s Goat, Glasgow
David Stein Butchers, Bathgate
Dunkeld Whisky Box, Dunkeld
Mart Farmshop, East Linton
Inverurie Whisky Shop, Inverurie
Luss General Store, Luss
Piob Mhor of Scotland, Blairgowrie
The Brig Larder, Kirkwall
The Dumfries Larder, Dumfries
The Jar, Troon
The Scottish Gantry, Milngavie
The Strong Water Company, Banchory
The Drymen Beer Shop, Drymen
Hansen’s Kitchen, Comrie
Greens Farm Shop, Thirsk
Moonshine and Fuggles, Telford
Whitmore and White, Cheshire
Knowles Green, Cheshire
Hedonism Wines, London
Fenwick, London and Newcastle
Berry Bros and Rudd, London
Mr & Mrs Fine Wine, Southwell
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We're also big fans of recycling, of a circular system, and of finding uses for things beyond their first and most obvious purpose. It was one of the big reasons that we redesigned our iconic Downpour bottles, creating something with the appeal to be treasured and reused.
As we have gone through the process of applying for B Corp certification, we have become all the more aware of the importance of making small changes that improve sustainability, and that those small changes add up to a bigger change.
Once our delicious botanicals have made our delicious Downpour, their journey is nowhere near done, and we make them available at our visitor centre at Nunton for anyone to come and collect to add to their compost pile. Although we have also met more than one Downpour fan who has dried the spent citrus, spices and wild Hebridean heather to make a sweet smelling potpourri, bringing a little waft of the distilling process into their homes!
Whether it's in compost or in a bowl on someone's coffee table, we're delighted to know that our botanicals have a lot more life left in them once the gin is made.
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Taking some time away from the desk here in North Uist and with a trusty phrasebook and some spf 50 in his backpack, Ali jetted off at the end of May for a whirlwind couple of days representing Downpour at Roma Bar Show, Italy’s number one drinks and mixology show.
Against the historic backdrop of the Palazzo Dei Congressi in Rome, Roma Bar Show brings together thousands of brands and industry players to experience the best that the hospitality world has to offer in a joyful, celebratory extravaganza of drinks, music and culture attended by 14,000 people over two days.
With masterclasses, tastings, discussion panels and workshops held against a backdrop of buzzing entertainment and glorious sunshine, Roma Bar Show is a world leader in hospitality events and we were super excited to be a part of it.
Invited by Tekbar, our distribution partners in Italy, to be a part of not only their stand but a Scottish Gin Masterclass organised with Scottish Development International, Ali was given a fantastic chance to tell a gathering of press and international industry professionals what makes Scottish gin, and Downpour in particular, so very special.
Making the most of his time at the show, Ali chatted with not all but a good number of those 14,000 attendees about all things Downpour and North Uist Distillery, making some great connections that will definitely help with our dream of bringing Downpour to the Italian market, a mission in the safe hands of the good folk at Tekbar!
Of course not all of that mingling happened on the show floor, Tekbar made sure that Ali experienced some good old Italian hospitality once the work day was over, getting to know everyone better over some late night pasta and wine and checking out Bar Roma’s events schedule at bars across the city.
Despite a couple of extremely long days repping Team Downpour, Ali rather impressively managed to squeeze in a couple of hours sightseeing on his second night in Rome, taking in some cultural classics in the slightly cooler and less crowded after dark hours.
It was an intensely busy couple of days, with the show running until 9pm both nights, providing a fantastic opportunity to meet not only our wonderful distributors, but also potential customers, fellow distilleries who have navigated the export process, and some of our other international partners who were in town for the show. Connections that we look forward to strengthening over the coming months!
]]>When we first moved into our new historic home at Nunton Steadings, the last thing we anticipated was it finding a temporary calling as an art gallery. But it turns out that those big, open spaces that are perfect for stills and casks, are also perfect for paintings, drawings, sculpture and installations!
We have been really excited to see the space at Nunton fill up with various exhibitions over the last year, taking in a wide variety of medias and inspirations, from book making to oil painting, drawing to sculpture.
Currently displayed throughout Nunton, with works in the stables, tasting room, and cattle shed, is Après la Fête, an exhibition of paintings and prints by Berneray artist, Keith McIntyre.
Après la Fête is inspired by stories and mythes of fêtes, of times of carnival and celebration, when food and drink is abundant. A fitting theme for our distillery home!
The exhibition will be up until June 22nd, and is open during regular opening hours at the distillery.
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Earlier this year we became a member of Scotland Food and Drink, the industry leadership organisation tasked with driving responsible growth for the sector and building Scotland's global reputation as a Land of Food and Drink. A mission we can fully get behind from here in Uist, a land of the most delicious food and drink imaginable.
In February Ali jetted off to Edinburgh to take part in a training course with other exciting Scottish businesses, taking in some valuable learning while enjoying a slightly different view from his day to day in the office in Uist!
In July we will be part of the Scotland Food and Drink stall at Imbibe Live in London, the leading drinks show in the UK, which is an amazing opportunity to meet other people in the industry and show off our award winning Downpour gins.
]]>‘What is there to do on rainy days?’ - it’s one of the most frequently asked questions in the North Uist Distillery visitor centre at Nunton, so we’ve asked around the team and put together some guides of our top ideas to keep the whole family entertained when the weather is less than ideal.
Our islands are diverse, exciting and ever changing places, and none of these are intended as complete guides, just wee brainstorms from Team Downpour! If we’ve missed anything that you think should be included, drop us a note and we’ll be happy to add it.
And please do check out Visit Outer Hebrides for a much more comprehensive guide to the many services and businesses available in Uist, and Uist Beò for weekly lists of events and activities.
Part 1 Berneray and North Uist
Heading south over the causeway from Benbecula, make Lovats Supermarket your first stop - a treasure trove of both local and more unusual products and an ideal place to stock up on lunch and dinner ingredients, or a bottle of Downpour if you missed the distillery on your way through Benbecula!
Next up, call in to Hebridean Jewellery and browse the collection of jewellery handmade right there in the workshop, or stop by the cafe for light refuelling. Continuing south we highly recommend taking a left and visiting Salar Smokehouse in Loch Carnan and adding some delicious smoked fish to your shopping basket. If you’re looking for a sit down meal, then call into Orasay Inn and enjoy a Downpour G&T or two alongside home cooked, local produce.
Back on the main road and heading south, we recommend taking a left driving down the Lochskipport road, rolling down your windows to meet the famously friendly Lochskipport ponies and visiting the dramatic ruins of the old pier at the end of the road, taking care to stop at the parking place and not driving straight down the very steep hill and into the sea (don't ask which team member had a very close shave doing exactly that, we won't tell!)
Call into Cothrom Re-store for handmade recycled and upcycled homewares, secondhand books and games, then stop at Kildonan Museum, which holds over 10,000 items related to the social, domestic and cultural history of South Uist, as well as a craft shop of local produce, a cafe and a ‘feis room’ a learning and performing art space for Gaelic culture including music, drama, art and storytelling. Check out Cnoc Soilleir’s program of events for more Gaelic music and culture, in their brand new centre in Daliburgh. While you're there pop into the Borrodale hotel for a meal and to refuel your G&T tank, should it be running low.
Loch Eynort is a beautiful place for a walk on a wet and wild day, the trees and hills providing shelter from the worst of the weather, and a taste of a less exposed side of the Uist landscape. Loch Druidibeg RSPB Reserve is another lovely place to walk, with patches of woodland to provide shelter and fuel for the imagination.
For the golfers among you who don’t mind a bit of drizzle, or are up for a windier golfing challenge, the iconic course at Askernish Golf Club is open all year around, with activities for kids during the school holidays, and all the equipment you could need available to hire.
Visit Lochboisdale to grab something tasty from Croft and Cuan to warm you up, or settle into the beautifully situated Lochboisdale Hotel for a meal and a drink. If you’re lucky then there might be some live music in the bar to keep you entertained. While you're in Lochboisdale visit Skydancer Coffee down at the harbour for a freshly roasted brew, and call in to Uist Gifts and Info for a wee browse.
Continuing on your journey south, Tigh Na Mara Art and Antiques Gallery at East Kilbride is a great stop for more arts, crafts and curios from the islands, and Polochar Inn will refuel you before heading over the causeway to Eriskay, our most southerly island.
Once you’ve done a slow drive around the island looking for the famous and rare Eriskay ponies, call into Eriskay Community Shop to stock up on supplies. Those of you who read about our Team Day Out last summer will know that we highly recommend Am Politician for a meal, and a trip aboard Uist Sea Tours, which has a fully covered indoor area for rainier outings.
If you have little ones who still need worn out then check out Eriskay Hall for softplay sessions, or run them around on the world famous football pitch until they're ready to drop.
As always, if you’re planning your holiday to Uist our top tip is to bring the best waterproofs you can find, because while rainy days are unavoidable, they don’t need to stop you enjoying the best that our islands have to offer!
Obviously the first thing to do on a rainy day in Uist is join us at Nunton Steadings for a tour, a tasting and a chat! Learn about the history of the building, our plans for the future, how we make our Downpour gins and the absolute best way to serve them. Spend an hour and 15 minutes with our enthusiastic gin experts and then allow a little more time to browse the shop and pick up your favourite Downpour editions to enjoy at home, or enjoy a G&T at the Island Life Bar.
Perhaps then head to Balivanich to pick up some local produce at Tagsa Uibhist’s polytunnels, Maclennan’s Supermarket, Lovats shop, Macleans butcher and bakery (you'll have to get your candlesticks elsewhere) or Kallin Shellfish in Grimsay, and put together a meal of local venison, shellfish and veg to enjoy with your Downpour.
While you’re at Kallin harbour consider booking a tour with Lady Anne Boat Trips, departing every weekday during the visitor season and taking in scenery and wildlife that is just as spectacular in the rain as it is on a sunny day. While you’re in Grimsay pop into Uist Wool's shop and mill to buy some beautiful locally produced yarn and to learn more about how Uist Wool has brought yarn production back to the island. Make sure you stop into The Hebridean Candles workshop at Baymore on Grimsay to pick up an upcycled Downpour Gin bottle candle and browse the range.
Next up call into Grimsay’s community centre Ceann na H’Arigh, for excellent coffee and food from Scandi Bakery, and a small but excellent selection of books on crofting, Uist culture and history. Pop into the Grimsay Boat Haven while you're there, a new museum of restored Grimsay fishing boats which has plenty of space for little ones to run around and burn off some energy.
Back in Benbecula call into Liniclate library and sports centre at our community secondary school, book a riding lesson (or beach ride if you fancy testing those waterproofs) at Uist Community Riding School, visit Benbecula thrift shop to pick up some boardgames, jigsaws and books for a rainy day at home, and if you feel like some relaxation, book a massage with at The Wee Haven, the perfect way to while away an afternoon with the sound of the rain outside.
If you're planning a meal out then we highly recommend calling into Charlie’s Bistro, The Dark Island Hotel or The Stepping Stone Restaurant, all of whom will fix you up with a delicious warming meal and maybe even a Downpour or two.
And if you'd like to get outside and feel the cobwebs blow away, which we highly recommend, visit airport beach, stinky bay, Liniclate beach, or our very own Culla Bay, right behind Nunton Steadings, which is a perfect length for a brief beach walk. Call in to get warm at the Island Life Bar afterwards and let us know how you've enjoyed your rainy day in Uist!
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It has been a fantastic year for us here at North Uist Distillery, with awards won, a bespoke bottle launched, a new flavour featured by the Craft Gin Club, a huge number of visitors to Nunton and as always, an unprecedented amount of gin sent out!
Here's to 2023, and all of the exciting developments it will bring!
Slàinte.
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It was with a lot of excitement that we were shortlisted for six Scottish Gin Awards earlier this year, and it was with even more excitement that a big group of the North Uist Distillery team travelled to Glasgow in November for the award ceremony.
We were blown away to win Excellence in Branding and Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year, both huge accolades in a very tough competition. It was fantastic to see the excellence that there is in Scottish gin, and to celebrate that in style with some of the very best of our cohorts in the industry.
Shortlisted
Downpour Scottish Dry Gin - Best London Dry Gin
Downpour Pink Grapefruit Gin - Best Pink Gin
Downpour Sloe and Bramble Gin - Best Berry Gin
North Uist Distillery - Excellence in Branding
North Uist Distillery - Excellence in Packaging
North Uist Distillery - Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year
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It’s with an extra large measure of excitement that we can finally share this double barrelled announcement with you… not only do we have a beautiful new addition to our range, Downpour Coast and Croft, but it was created exclusively with the Craft Gin Club to be their November gin of the month.
Every month the Craft Gin Club sends out a bottle of some of the world’s best gins to its members, in a box packed with delicious goodies picked to compliment that month’s bottle and create both a cocktail and a perfect serve, and we are beyond honoured to have been selected to be in this month’s box.
For now Downpour Coast and Croft is only available through the Craft Gin Club’s gin box subscription or at our shop at Nunton, but we are delighted to have a box to give away to one lucky Downpour fan. Just leave a comment below, tagging someone you’d share your Craft Gin Club, Downpour Coast and Croft box with.
*This giveaway will run across facebook and instagram and one winner will be selected from all of the entries. You may enter as many times as you like and each comment/tag will count as a separate entry. Good luck!
"What is there to do in Uist when the weather is bad?"
This is one of the most common questions we are asked by visitors to Nunton, and assuming that you have already booked your Downpour Tour and Tasting or scheduled a G&T in our Island Life Bar, the answer is… lots!
We’ve had a little Team Downpour brainstorm and would love to share our top tips with you, so pour yourself a drink and let’s plan some rainy days in Uist. Some of our suggestions are only open seasonally, so do check out the links and their facebook pages for up to date opening information.
When the weather is less than cheery, it is a perfect day to take in some art and culture around the islands. Starting in Lochmaddy, call into Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre, which has a dynamic selection of exhibitions and events running throughout the year in its award winning museum and gallery spaces. Write your postcards while you watch the weather from the cafe windows, and make sure you set aside some time to browse the fantastic book selection in the shop which is also home to a post office and local crafts. Check out what events are coming up and if you’re lucky, schedule an art opening, music session or poetry evening into your week.
Whilst you’re in Lochmaddy, drop by the Old Lochmaddy School building which is being developed into a community hub and is currently home to an exhibition on the Natural History of North Uist. Check out their facebook page for opening times. Stop off for some lunch or dinner at The Lochmaddy Hotel or sister restaurant Hamersay House. Children will love the ice cream bar at the Lochmaddy Hotel and they also have a delicious selection of freshly made cakes.
Heading north to Berneray, you can while away some time at the fantastically stocked Coralbox Gift Shop, call into The Birlinn Yarn Company’s studio for art and woolly wonders, and stop by Berneray Shop and Bistro for fantastic local seafood (and a Downpour G&T or two).
If you’re keen to stretch your legs (or walk your dog) then Langass Woods is a relatively sheltered option on a wet and windy day. This community woodland is a lovely place for a sheltered walk and to experience a different side to Uist’s otherwise exposed landscape. Keep your eyes open and you might even find Hercules the bear. If your waterproofs are up to it then heading out of the woods by the top gate and following the waymarkers across the moors and past the neolithic stone circle will be rewarded with a warm welcome at Langass Lodge, a perfect place to dry off with a meal or a drink by the fire in their cosy bar.
When you head towards Locheport take the short trip to visit Shoreline Stoneware for local pottery and a collection of other artists work. Make sure you stop by the Hebridean Smokehouse at Clachan for some of their finest peat smoked salmon.
If your appetite for a fire and a drink has been whetted, then call into Westford Inn which makes a glorious place to wait out the worst of the weather and sample the Downpour range by a toasty stove.
Of course, embracing Uist’s moody and changeable weather is always an option too and getting outside is a wonderful way to blow out some cobwebs. There is something undeniably special about a wet and windy beach walk, especially if it ends with a delicious hot roll and drink from one of our outdoor food trailers. Balranald beach and the Dunes Cabin make a fantastic pairing, as does a walk along Valley Strand with something tasty from Wee Cottage Kitchen.
Providing that the weather is simply unideal and not downright dangerous, the adventurous among you might like to get in the water. Uist is full of beautiful places to wild swim, surf, and paddleboard, and you’re wet anyway, you might as well fully commit, right? (Always consult tide charts and weather forecasts before wild swimming, don’t go alone and make sure to ask for local advice on where to swim - safety first!)
Under 5s can be entertained for a while by the softplay at Claddach Kirkebost centre, which also has a great selection of local crafts and produce, and a cafe with beautiful views across to Kirkibost island. There are various other play groups around the islands if you’re here with a little one and looking for something to do on a rainy day.
Check out Wild Things Uist for outdoor and bell tent play sessions (with sheltered options when the weather is truly inhospitable) for a fantastic way to get little ones out and about and enjoying the wonderful Uist landscape.
(image by Clickybox Photography)
]]>While it's the opinions of our customers that we hold dear to our hearts, it's always nice to get a little recognition from the industry too! And this season has been a fantastic one here at North Uist Distillery, as Downpour has been awarded a series of shiny medals and placed on some of the most exciting shortlists in Scottish gin!
Downpour Scottish Dry was awarded a Master in the Global Gin Masters awards, while Downpour Sloe and Bramble took Gold. The Great Taste Awards gave Downpour Scottish Dry two stars, and one each for Downpour Sloe and Bramble and our ready made Downpour Oak Aged Negroni.
We were awarded Bronze by the Scottish Gin Cooperative for product design with our brand new bottle, and have been shortlisted in no less than six categories by The Scottish Gin Awards (winners to be announced in November).
We think all of these are worth raising a glass to, don't you? Slàinte!
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These mouth-watering recipes come from William of The Wilder Kitchen, a chef living and working in North Uist and sharing his cooking inspirations and adventures with local, sustainable and foraged ingredients, cooked outdoors over open flame, on his beautiful instagram account.
It's so exciting to see Downpour used in new and inspiring ways, especially in the wild with local foraged ingredients like samphire, that are so much a part of our inspiration in trying to capture the flavour of island life in our drinks.
If you find yourself hungry for a little Downpour-infused feast but would rather have someone else do the cooking for you then you are in luck. The Wilder Kitchen Outdoor Cooking Experiences run until the end of September, where you can join William at the beautiful Clachan Sands beach for food, fire, conversation, and a G&T or two, for £25 per head.
Hop over to The Wilder Kitchen instagram account for more information and to follow William on his culinary adventures, and scroll on for some serious culinary inspiration.
A huge thank you to William for these recipes, and to Paul Little for the beautiful photographs.
You can also follow Paul over on instagram to see more of his work, and please do let us know if you try either of these delicious Downpour delights!
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DÙTHCHAS | HOME online trailer from TAIGH CHEARSABHAGH on Vimeo.
'For many of us, there are two places we can call home – where we were born, where we still feel we belong, and where we now live. This film is about the yearning for their birth home felt by those who have left the Isle of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides, and the remembrance of the ever-living past for those who have stayed or returned when the home in their heart is also where they live.'
Dùthchas weaves together archive film footage from the 60s and 70s with modern day interviews from people who belong to Berneray, and their descendants, and is a beautiful and poignant exploration of home, language and culture on the small island.
Ahead of its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Dùthchas makes its pre-premiere launch in Berneray Community Hall on Thursday August 18th, sponsored by North Uist Distillery. Tickets for the event are sold out, but the feature length film will be screening at 12 locations around the country on August 20th, including EIFF, followed by a tour with the Screen Machine and a return to North Uist on September 3rd.
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It's that time of the year again where we are asking you to get involved in making Downpour the burst of island flavour that we all know and love by bringing us heather in exchange for gin.
Downpour Scottish Dry Gin owes its delicious taste in no small part to the wild Hebridean heather hand-gathered from around Uist and every batch that we make is labelled with the location of that distillation's heather harvest.
This year, bring us 1kg of heather flowers (you can keep the foliage!) and you will receive the first bottle from the batch of Downpour made with your heather. Bring us 500g and we'll give you a mini set in return.
The heather can be bell, ling, or a combination of both, but please make sure you are picking the flowers and not the leaves, and that those flowers are open and not in bud (the sniff test will help here, can you smell that delicious honey fragrance? If not then it's not ready!). One method of gathering is to use a pair of scissors to give the heather plant a ‘light trim’, another is to sweep your fingers along the stems, gently removing the flowers between your finger and thumb.
Flowers can be dropped off at Nunton, and if you aren't delivering them within hours of picking them please freeze them in a plastic bag with the air squeezed out until you can get them to us. This also means you don't have to pick your whole batch at once, and can store up smaller amounts until you have the weight you want.
Don't forget to follow best foraging practise by taking no more than 10% of the flowers from any one plant! Please also be tick aware, as moors are the perfect place to pick up these unwanted passengers. Long sleeves and long trousers are sensible, as is a thorough inspection of your nooks and crannies after you’re done.
Happy picking!
]]>It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy the machair, Uist’s famous low-lying coastal habitat. Renowned for its abundance of colourful wildflowers, the fertile strips of land along the west coast of the islands are home to unique plant and bird life and are held dear in the hearts of most islanders, the smell of the machair in bloom being quintessential island life, distilled.
Unique to the west coasts of Scotland and Ireland, and particularly associated with the Outer Hebrides, machair is one of the rarest habitats on the globe, formed from lime-rich shell sand washed up thousands of years ago by the Atlantic, and dispersed by strong winds which spread the sand inland.
While April through to June are great times to see the nesting waders and the first wildflowers, the flowers and the rare bee species they attract come into their own in June and July.Red clover, poppy, birds-foot-trefoil, yarrow, daisies, marsh orchid, Hebridean spotted orchid, field pansy and ragged Robin are among the favourites that burst into life during summer on the machair.
Machair and its conservation is heavily entwined with crofting, which has shaped the landscape over thousands of years. Both light cattle grazing and low-intensity crop production using seaweed from the shore as fertiliser, have been carried out on the fertile, sandy soil for many generations, and in more recent times crofters have adapted their cultivation techniques to protect rare species like the corncrake.
Our bere barley is currently growing steadily among the wildflowers on the machair of North Uist and Benbecula and we are delighted to be able to play a part in the management and conservation of this unique, and beloved habitat in the production of our Nunton Whisky.
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