Target reached!
With extra funding, we can create an even more special visitor area for all generati...
With extra funding, we can create an even more special visitor area for all generati...
We at Beinn an Tuirc Distillers in Kintyre, on the west of Scotland, are creating a beautiful orchard-to-glass Eau de Vie and Apple Brandy.
Beinn an Tuirc Distillers have been creating the fantastic Kintyre Gin for 5 years, in addition to a small range of other gins. We champion sustainability, and as a Carbon Neutral company, we power our still with our own hydro scheme, our solar array powers our cafe, and we plant trees to off-set against any carbon produced by us in the gin making process.
Torrisdale Estate is home to the distillery, and on the estate we re-established an old Victorian walled garden around 9 years ago and planted a small orchard. With fruit from the orchard, and local collections and donations, we processed and fermented around 2 tonnes of apples in 2021. The cider was then distilled to create a beautiful Eau De Vie which is now maturing in a cask at the distillery. In a couple of years this will be ready to bottle and sell as our first batch of apple brandy.
In 2022 we have repeated the process, however to increase efficiency we have supplemented the local apple juice with additional juice bought in. Moving forward, and to help us to produce a spirit with entirely our own juice and in greater volumes, we need to plant more apple trees. And lots of them! We also need to adapt some buildings and buy in some better equipment.
Our existing orchard is maintained along organic principles, in that there is no chemical use whatsoever, and this will be extended to any new areas we plant.
Our plan is to plant 4 new small orchards, totalling around 3 acres in the next 2 years. These will need to be deer fenced due to the high level of Sika deer in the area. As part of the process we also aim to create a small interpretation area above the distillery which will be utilised for tours. Here, guests will be able to see the growing process, and also get to juice their own apples should the season be right! We are also going to create a small wildlife pond as an extension to the orchard, get pigs in to clear some of the poorer land and to feed on the apple waste and install a Himalayan rope bridge over a small gorge. Whilst planted to produce fruit, the orchards will provide a secondary function of education and habitat provision.
In addition to the spirits, we will also produce fresh apple juice to sell in our cafe and shop, and also a range of ready to drink (RTD) apple cocktails. Something for everyone!
Rewards are the perfect Christmas present, and we will happily send certificates to anyone purchasing so they can send on to their friends and family as gifts.
Please feel free to drop in and see us if you have any queries, or email Niall at [email protected].
This project successfully funded on 30th November 2022