Spring is almost here and Orkney’s food, drink, and crafts makers have been putting their seasonal inspiration to good use, creating a whole range of fabulous new products from their island workshops and studios.
From Orkney-brewed kombucha to oak bowls and brand-new books, there’s something from the islands for everyone.
Check out just some of the new items available to buy from our Creative Orkney and Taste of Orkney members.
Leo Kerr Mirrors – Aurora collection
This latest range of handcrafted mirrors from Burray-based craftsman, Leo Kerr, is inspired by the beautiful Northern Lights that are often seen in Orkney’s skies at this time of year. This collection of mirrors is made from sustainable timber with an added purple hue to encapsulate a sense of the Aurora Borealis dancing across our northern skies.
Golden Slipper Brewing Company - Kombucha
The latest drink products to hit Orkney’s shelves are a first for the islands. The talented team at the Golden Slipper Brewing Company has crafted non-alcoholic kombuchas that are full of flavour and good for your gut health too. The range includes Pineappleweed, Sea Kelp Fizz, and Dry-Hopped versions, all full of probiotics, antioxidants, and vitamins, and plenty of fresh, local ingredients.
Michael Sinclair Woodturner - Scottish oak bowls
This new collection of handmade scale bowls from Michael Sinclair is inspired by the armour worn by Samurai, Viking, and Roman warriors, with individual metal pins and red spirit stain enhancing the Scottish oak. Michael hand-turns then hand-carves each bowl, which stand around 100mm high.
Orkney Gin Company - Sule Skerry Gin
A new release exclusively available from the Craft Gin Club, Sule Skerry Gin from the Orkney Gin Company comes with flavours like orange zest, nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon. It’s named after Sule Skerry, Orkney’s westernmost outcrop, and features a gently caramelised finish with the traditional juniper-forward flavour of gin you’d expect from this award-winning Orkney producer. The gin will be available on the Orkney Gin Company website later in the spring.
Toumal Art Studio - 'Attry weather at the Brough’
Orphir-based artist Ingrid Grieve is always inspired by the changeable Orkney weather and her latest work features conditions we’ve hopefully seen the back of (for the time being, at least!). ‘Attry’ is an old Orcadian word for cold, bitter weather, and Ingrid’s painting showcases a wild day at the Brough of Birsay, just off the north-western tip of the mainland. Painted on canvas with water-based oil, the painting is available from Ingrid’s Toumal Art Studio.
J. Gow Rum - NMO 2021 Moscatel
This innovative new rum is the fourth release in J. Gow Rum’s wild yeast series and is its first aged version. It’s made from yeast isolated from northern marsh orchids that grow next to the distillery on Lamb Holm. The rum had a 30-day fermentation and was aged in second fill moscatel octaves for three years. It comes with stone fruit, citrus, and allspice tasting notes, dark chocolate on the palate, and a dry oak spice finish. Only 265 hand-numbered bottles are available so be quick if you fancy a special tipple.
Edwin Rendall - 'This Rock Called Home' book
Edwin Rendall’s Wheeling Steen Gallery is a must-visit if you find yourself in Westray. The gallery is full of Edwin’s paintings and photographs, a true testament to his talent and the inspiration he finds in his island home. His new book, ‘This Rock Called Home’, is a collection of 70 photographs and words from Edwin. Each copy is signed and numbered by Edwin himself.
Highland Park Distillery - Highland Park 56
Highland Park is celebrating spring in style with the release of its oldest and rarest single malt Scotch whisky. Highland Park 56 has been created from a never-before-tasted cask from the same line that has produced some of the distillery’s most exceptional whiskies. This 47.1% bottle has hints of jasmine, sweet raisins and cloudy honey on the nose, Seville orange peel and coriander seeds on the palate, and Highland Park’s traditional heathery peat smoke on the finish. Only 170 bottles of this incredible whisky are available.
Sheila Fleet Jewellery - Droplet pendants
These beautiful new Droplet pendants are Sheila Fleet’s latest addition to her Arctic Stream collection. They’re made in luxurious Scottish Gold, hand-set with a diamond, sapphire, emerald, and ruby, and are available online with matching earrings. Sheila Fleet is one of only two jewellers in the world authorised to make and sell Scottish Gold from the Cononish Gold Mine, Scotland’s only commercial gold mine. Any of Sheila’s designs can be made in this rare metal.
Swannay Brewery - Dark Bere
Brewed with Orkney-grown bere barley, Dark Bere is Swannay Brewery’s new Viking grain porter. Coming in at 5.2%, the beer has an earthy bitterness and is darkly complex, with the Orkney bere accompanied by Bobek and Willamette hops.
Marion Miller Jewellery – Mara collection
The latest range from Stronsay’s Marion Miller Jewellery is inspired by all the colours and weathers of spring, with hints of pale seaglass, tender grasses, and flowers that are just beginning to appear. The pieces, which feature herring shoals, tidelines and more, come with blues and silvers, a nod to those days when winter briefly returns, with grey skies and the wind whipping up the sea.
Browse our Shop Online pages for more products from our talented Taste of Orkney and Creative Orkney members.