Kintyre distillery to expand product range

An Argyll distillery is exploring the development of two new products after securing £4,922 innovation funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Shared Prosperity Fund.

Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Ltd in Kintyre is investigating the development of two new canned ready to drink (RTD) cocktail recipes, with the creation of a sub-brand and fully protected intellectual property rights.

Formed in 2016, Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Ltd produces specialist gins with its first bottle sold July 2017.

In the summer of 2018, with HIE support, the company completed its on-site visitor Tasting Room and in 2021, again with HIE support, completed a café and gin school offering. In 2022 two residential units (bothies) were opened.

A recent award from HIE contributed towards the further diversification of the business through the purchase of a geodome and by increasing the catering facilities available thus enabling an expansion of the visitor facilities.

On completion of this new innovation project the business will be capable of producing a small output of canned cocktails.

While these can be sold direct to consumers, the main aim is to have a product that can be seen and tasted by wholesale buyers.

The purpose of the project is to drive further diversification in a way that will expand the product range and bring about an increase in turnover.

Morag Goodfellow, HIE area manager for Argyll and the Islands, said:

“Innovation is the key driver behind business growth, particularly around development of new products, processes and services that help strengthen business resilience and secure jobs. That’s why we were keen to support these types of initiatives.

“We have worked with Beinn an Tuirc Distillery from the very start and have found the team there to be very innovative in their approach to developing the business, both in terms of its products and the role of the distillery as a visitor attraction.

“This latest initiative to explore further new products in the form of canned cocktails will be a welcome addition to the range. I’m delighted we’ve been able to provide support and look forward to seeing the project take shape.”

HIE’s shared prosperity fund offers businesses and social enterprises grants of up to £10,000 towards innovation and research and development projects, particularly those that contribute towards productivity and lowering carbon emissions.