Spirits Limited Micro Distillery (No Visitor Centre/Shop), Burray, Orkney KW17 2SS, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Kirkjuvagar Orkney Wonderful Rich Gin
OUR ORKNEY GIN
OUR ORKNEY GIN
INSPIRED ISLANDS SPIRIT
Kirkjuvagr means “Church Bay” in Old Norse. Back when Orkney was emerging as a seat of power in the Viking Empire, the Norsemen would sail their longships into Kirkjuvagr, which over the centuries grew into our islands’ capital, Kirkwall.
In name, Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin reflects the rich history of our islands and the boldness of those ancient seafarers. In character though, it’s utterly contemporary and has been crafted with the modern, discerning gin enthusiast in mind.
It is, quite simply, unmistakably Orcadian.
A MODERN ORCADIANSAGA
Our quest is to earn Kirkjuvagr mythical status with gin drinkers around the world.
We handcraft our gin in small batches using traditional copper stills in a process defined by passion, commitment and attention to detail.
After all, the Vikings didn’t mess around. Nor do we.
And the symbol on our bottle top? That’s a Vegvisir, or Viking compass. Its power helped the Norsemen find their way. Now we hope it’ll lead you north on your own epic voyage to discover the home of Kirkjuvagr.
A MYTH IN THE MAKING
When creating Kirkjuvagr, on the shores of Kirkwall Bay, we thought it fitting to seek out a connection to our Viking ancestors that ran deeper than just our name.
We then discovered a local legend that spoke of a variety of Angelica brought to the islands by Norsemen centuries ago, which can still be found growing wild today.
Naturally, this very Angelica is now one of our defining ingredients, complementing a distinctive blend of local botanicals, including Ramanas Rose, Burnet Rose and Borage. Uniquely, we’ve also used traditional Orkney bere barley in our recipe.
KIRKJUVAGR ORKNEYGIN BOTANICALS
When forming the Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin recipe, we discovered a local legend that spoke of a variety of Angelica brought to the islands by Norsemen centuries ago. This Angelica can still be found growing wild today.
It became one of our defining ingredients, complementing a unique blend of local botanicals, including Ramanas Rose, Burnet Rose and Borage. Uniquely, we’ve also used traditional Orkney bere barley in our recipe.
Our Orcadian botanicals have been specially grown and handpicked for us by the Agronomy Institute of the University of the Highlands and Islands, at their site overlooking Kirkwall Bay.
KIRKJUVAGR ORKNEY GIN
In name, Kirkjuvagr Gin reflects the rich history of our islands and the boldness of those ancient seafarers.
In character, it’s utterly contemporary and has been crafted with the modern, discerning gin enthusiast in mind.
DESCRIPTION
REFLECTING THE BOLDNESS OF OUR NORSE ANCESTORS, THE CLARITY OF OUR SEAS AND THE PURITY OF OUR AIR, KIRKJUVAGR IS A HAND-CRAFTED ORKNEY GIN FOR THE MODERN, DISCERNING GIN ENTHUSIAST.
This is the big bottle, 70cl of lovingly prepared Orkney gin in our bold and stylish bottles.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Fresh sea breeze with a sweetness reminiscent of sherbet, lemons and pine.
Palate and finish: Starts warm and sweet with a hint of spice, followed by a floral, smooth and long finish.
PERFECT SERVE
Serve Kirkjuvagr over ice, with your favourite Indian tonic and garnish with fresh orange peel. Alternatively, at 43% Kirkjuvagr is remarkably smooth and makes the perfect Martini.
AWARDS
BEYLA – HONEY & RASPBERRY OLD TOM GIN – 70CL
Sale price
£38.99
DESCRIPTION
In Norse mythology, Beyla was the goddess of bees, with a strong connection to the earth.
At Orkney Distilling, we share her bond with the land, growing our botanicals here in the islands, where the influence of the Norse gods can still be felt.
We’ve added Orcadian honey and Scottish raspberries to our legendary Kirkjuvagr Gin to create this special spirit in homage to the goddess.
TASTING NOTES
Fresh Scottish raspberries bring extra fruitiness and colour to our classic Kirkjuvagr gin recipe, while balancing the sweetness introduced by our island honey.
PERFECT SERVE
We recommend serving Beyla with a light Indian Tonic, or for a sweeter finish with a good quality lemonade. Either way, garnish with plenty of fresh raspberries.
AWARDS
ARKH-ANGELL – STORM STRENGTH ORKNEY GIN – 70CL
Sale price
£44.99
DESCRIPTION
STRONGER – MORE INTENSE – OUR TESTAMENT TO SEAFARERS
Arkh-Angell is our Navy Strength gin and pays homage to the proud seafaring heritage of Orkney.
It retains the smoothness and characteristics of our original Kirkjuvagr, but at 57% ABV, the increased strength brings new depths to its complex flavour profile.
Arkh-Angell is a tribute to generations of island seafarers, and carries the name of a local fishing boat that has a place close to the heart of many Orcadians. The gin’s name also reflects the use of a locally grown variety of Norwegian angelica, called Archangelica, taken to the Islands centuries ago by sailors from the North.
TASTING NOTES
Arkh-Angell maintains the integrity of Kirkjuvagr but at 57% carries a remarkably powerful, yet smooth finish with notes of pine and a hint of liquorice.
PERFECT SERVE
Arkh-Angell pairs wonderfully with tonic and pink grapefruit. Our storm strength gin is also incredible neat, over ice with a sprig of mint.
AURORA – WINTER EDITION SPICED ORKNEY GIN – 70CL
Sale price
£38.99
DESCRIPTION
In Orkney, the appearance of the Aurora Borialis, or Northern Lights, marks the start of our journey towards the long, dark nights of an island winter. The almost endless days of our summer means that this breath-taking spectacle can’t be easily seen, so the return of our ‘Merry Dancers’ is always eagerly anticipated. It’s a time for wrapping up and gazing skywards in awe, before gathering indoors to share stories around a roaring peat fire.
This Aurora edition of our acclaimed Kirkjuvagr Gin seeks to bring extra warmth and spice to those crisp evenings under the stars. Ground cinnamon, nutmeg and whole cloves provide this warm spice whilst pink and black peppercorns provide a lasting tongue-tingling presence in the finish.
TASTING NOTES
Aurora starts with the sweetness of orange and cinnamon but transforms into a warming spicy finish, owing to the pink and black peppercorns used in distillation.
PERFECT SERVE
Serve Aurora over lots of ice, garnish with a wedge of orange and a stick of cinnamon and top with ginger ale.
AWARDS
KIRKJUVAGR ORKNEY FOY – 2024 SPECIAL EDITION – 50CL
Sale price
£31.99
Music is the beating heart of Orkney, a constant of island life for generations. Tunes connect us with our past, uniting old and young in an aural celebration of what it is to be Orcadian. Our love of music is also the foundation for friendships that span the globe, and the catalyst for many of our wonderful festivals. This special edition of Orkney Distilling’s Kirkjuvagr gin pays homage to the traditional island Foy, an eagerly anticipated night of music and entertainment.
We are proudly donating a part of the proceeds from sales of Orkney Foy gin to the Orkney Folk Festival, ensuring the future of this internationally renowned community event.
Tasting Notes
Citrus notes from Calamondin complement a melody of locally grown botanicals, including Angelica, Aronia, Borage, Meadowsweet, Burnet Rose, Ramanas Rose and Elderflower. We’ve got some woody tones in there too.
Perfect Serve
We recommend to serve Foy over ice, with your favorite Indian tonic and garnish with fresh orange peel. Enjoy with a good tune!
THE HOME OF KIRKJUVAGR ORKNEY GIN
ORKNEY DISTILLERY TOURS
We invite you to enter our new distillery and visitor centre in Kirkwall, to toast the gods and learn the secrets behind our legendary Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin.
Situated on Kirkwall’s harbour-front, The Orkney Distillery is the ideal attraction for gin enthusiasts looking for a quality visitor experience in the heart of Orkney’s main town. You can check live availability and book online through our website. We also have options for designated drivers and U18s to enjoy the tour alcohol-free.
- Get a guided tour through the Orkney Distillery
- Learn about the distilling process of our gin & whisky products
- Learn about the key botanicals we use in our gin range
- See production area up close
- Sample our gins whilst overlooking Kirkwall’s harbour
- Relax with a coffee or gin and purchase bottles to take away
