Historic Castletown mill could become a whisky distillery
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AN old mill on the outskirts of Castletown could become a whisky distillery. That is an option being considered by Martin and Claire Murray, who own the historic building and already run the successful Dunnet Bay Distillers which produces award-winning gin and vodka.
The company confirmed this week that a planning application has been lodged with Highland Council to redevelop and refurbish the 200-year-old mill. The listed building and surrounding land was acquired earlier this year.
Dunnet Bay Distillers want the mill to be used as an additional bottling facility and warehousing but is also looking at the possibility of housing a whisky distillery there but has stressed no decisions have been made yet.
Director and co-founder, Martin Murray, said: "It’s early days and we cannot say for sure whether we will be introducing a third spirit brand into our portfolio but it is certainly under consideration. First, we need to see the reaction of the planning department. Only then will we be working towards any long-term decisions. The exciting thing, for us at this stage, is the prospect of restoring this historic building to its former glory and breathing new life into it".
He described the purchase of the building, opposite the Castletown beach, as "an exciting opportunity" and one which could create "further resources" for the expanding business as well as additional jobs.
The firm's Rock Rose gin and Holy Grass vodka brands sell strongly in Scotland and the rest of the UK and are exported to around 24 countries across the world.
Dunnet Bay Distillers has gone from strength to strength over the past seven years, winning a number of awards.
A year after setting up in 2014, the company took the award for the best new business at the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards.
The same year Dunnet Bay Distillers was also featured among the prize-winners at the Great Taste Awards and the Global Gin Masters, while Rock Rose was chosen as the best new launch design at the World Gin Awards.
In 2016, the company won the new product category at the Highlands & Islands Food & Drinks awards, this time for its Holy Grass vodka.
The three-storey mill dates from the early 1800s but has been lying empty for a long time although it could soon take on a new lease of life.
Meanwhile, staff at the firm have committed to walking 13,000 steps daily to help raise funds for Highland Hospice. That is the average number of steps a hospice nurse takes in one shift.
Claire Murray, co-founder and a director of the business, said: "If we can collectively walk over four million steps in 30 days, Dunnet Bay Distillers will donate £500 to the final figure raised for this excellent cause".
Highland Hospice provides specialist palliative care to improve the quality of life for people who have life limiting illness and require specific treatment for difficult problems such as pain and symptom control or require rehabilitation.
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