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| Lamb Holm Island, Northern Scotland |
A tiny uninhabited Orkney Island, located in Northern Scotland, has started producing rum. The island of Lamb Holm is
best known as the location for the Italian Chapel but it is now also home to
one of Scotland’s few rum distilleries. J Gow Rum aims to produce between
12,000 and 15,000 bottles a year. Named after notorious Orkney
pirate John Gow, the distillery laid down its first barrels, thought to be the
first ever laid on Orkney – in mid-August.
Orkney island of Lamb Holm, now one of the smallest rum-producing
islands in the world.
As it prepares to launch its inaugural
product, a spiced rum, to date J. Gow has produced 38,000 litres of wash from
six tons of molasses and distilled 20 runs on the still. The resulting liquid has been decanted into
Italian chestnut barrels, chosen for their compatibility with the cold Orkney
climate. Former former whisky casks are
currently being reconditioned and will be filled in the coming weeks and
months. J. Gow Spiced Rum is “made
with a blend of spices from around the world including two secret ingredients
grown in Orkney”, and will offer citrus and cinnamon notes with a hint of
vanilla and a “warming spice finish”.
Colin van Schayk, whose family own a wine business –
Orkney Wine – also based on Lamb Holm, is behind the scheme. He said: “It’s a light golden rum with hints
of orange, cinnamon and vanilla. Ultimately we want it to be super smooth so
you can drink it without mixer, because you should be able to drink it straight
or with your favorite mixer.”
A release date has not yet been announced.
The distillery also plans to release a second variety of barrel-aged rum will
be released in the near future, with “an entire range of products” to follow.
