Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin
Kirkjuvagr · Orkney Distilling Ltd.
An assertive, terroir-driven Orkney gin that wears its harsh North Atlantic origins proudly — beautifully balanced between traditional juniper backbone and the foraged botanicals of a windswept archipelago.
Nose
Fresh juniper leads, threaded with bright lemon peel and a green, herbaceous lift from angelica. Beneath sits a faint maritime salinity and the dry, hay-like whisper of burnet rose, with subtle warmth from coriander seed.
Palate
Crisp and oily on entry, with piney juniper at the core. Mid-palate brings citrus zest, ramanas rose hip, and a savoury angelica root depth. Borage flower adds a cool, cucumber-edged greenness, while a touch of pepper and earthy orris keep the structure firm.
Finish
Long and dry, with lingering juniper resin, sea-salted citrus oil, and a faintly floral, almost windswept-meadow note that fades slowly.
- Style
- Contemporary Scottish Dry Gin with foraged coastal botanicals
- Botanicals
- Juniper, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries
- Base Spirit
- Grain Neutral Spirit
Cocktail Suggestion
The Selkie's Tide — 50ml Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin, 15ml dry vermouth, 5ml Manzanilla sherry, 2 dashes celery bitters. Stir over ice for 25 seconds, strain into a chilled coupe, express a strip of lemon peel and discard. Garnish with a single pickled samphire frond.
Food Pairing
Pan-seared Orkney scallops with brown butter and capers, or smoked mackerel on rye with crème fraîche and dill.
Distilled in Kirkwall by a family-run operation that revived a Norse-era spirit tradition, using locally foraged angelica, burnet rose, and ramanas rose hip gathered along Orkney's storm-battered shores.
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