OUR STORY
What’s our story? Get to know us a little better… who we are and where it all started
WHO WE ARE
We are an independent, family-run craft spirit business and proud creators of the multi-award-winning Misty Isle Gins and Misty Isle Vodka.
Our range of premium gins are handcrafted and distilled to perfection on the idyllic Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands using only the finest foraged botanicals and the local crystal clear spring waters from the Storr Lochs.
We believe our mix of traditional processes and fresh innovative ideas, is what gives our highly-acclaimed spirits their unique flavour and why our Misty Isle Gins offer a true taste of Scotland you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Portree Bay
Skye Seashore
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Born and raised on Skye, brothers Thomas and Alistair Wilson are as homegrown and down-to-earth as their beloved Misty Isle Gin. They are the lively characters behind Isle of Skye Distillers.
It’s fair to say Thomas and Alistair’s passion for gin is equal only to that of their love for Skye, its people and its produce. They take every opportunity to share their passion for the island and its breathtaking scenery (with anyone who will listen) and they do this unapologetically through the provenance of the unique spirits they craft.
After much discussion (and a few too many drams) with dreams of giving up their day jobs and creating the very first gin distillery on the Isle of Skye, Thomas and Alistair decided to take the plunge and combine their love for all things gin and Skye into a business venture.
They secured planning permission for the new purpose-built distillery where the Wilson brothers got to work creating something unique. Something special. And Isle of Skye Distillers was born!
Misty Isle Gin
An Early Distil (Image courtesy The Gin Co-Operative)
THE BROTHERS BEHIND THE BRAND
Younger brother Alistair has an experienced background in the hospitality industry having successfully managed various bars and restaurants across Glasgow. He is very accustomed to customers’ (and their taste) expectations especially when it comes to serving up a good G&T!
Thomas, the older and ‘wiser’ brother (his words, not Alistair’s) served in the Parachute Regiment and is still very active as a retained firefighter in the local community. Having been a builder and worked for the Highland Council, he’s pretty handy to have around and would argue he’s the organisational brains of the operation.
Together the Wilson brothers have built Isle of Skye Distillers from the ground up – quite literally – to bring you the very best quality, tasting and value for money Gin and Vodka Scotland has to offer.
Thomas and Alistair Wilson
Misty Isle Gin and Misty Isle Cill Targhlain Gin
MISTY ISLE GIN – WHERE IT ALL STARTED
The island has a wild and rugged beauty that is hard to find anywhere else in the world. And it is this unique landscape that not only inspired the spirits we’ve created, but also the name of our brand – Misty Isle.
All of the spirits are made locally in Portree using the crystal clear spring waters from the Storr Lochs just a few miles from the distillery. Initially launched as Isle of Skye gin, the Isle of Skye Distillery can boast the first stills producing gin on Skye.
For their first gin, it had to embody its place of origin and truly capture the ‘spirit of Skye’. The Wilsons took inspiration from the local landscape, the Old man of Storr, and the Cuillin mountain range in particular.
After many months of long days, burning the midnight oil with dedicated research, experimentation and foraging local juniper berries – often in the rain (well it’s Scotland, so aye… lots of rain) – they finally found the perfect recipe. In early February 2017, they launched their flagship product, Misty Isle Gin.
Misty Isle Vodka
Misty Isle Pink Gin
AND THE REST IS HISTORY
Misty Isle’s highly acclaimed success opened the doors for us to grow our range of gins and even produce the first vodka to be distilled on Skye, our triple GOLD award-winning Misty Isle Vodka.
We’re proud to say our multi-award-winning flagship gin has proven to punch well above its weight in national and world competitions, outperforming some big-name brands. So whether you’re a gin connoisseur or a newbie to the world of gin, we think you’ll love it as much as we do!
PROVENANCE IS EVERYTHING
Provenance is everything to us at Isle of Skye Distillers and one of our fundamental core values – the abiding sense of belonging and community. This is reflected in everything we do, from the ingredients we use and how our spirits are made to the people we work with and the bottle that bears our name.
Provenance can be seen in our unique bottle, label and branding designs. The bottle shape represents the elements on the Isle of Skye, our mountainous landscape and turbulent seas. The label design is an accurate representation of the Cuillin Mountains and has multiple finishes including a copper foiling that is a nod to our copper gin stills.
Inspired by Skye, all of the spirits are crafted locally in Portree using the finest botanicals and locally foraged ingredients married with the crystal clear spring waters from the Storr Lochs just a few miles from the distillery.
The Old Man of Storr and Storr Lochs
The Cuillins
OUR DISTILLERY & GIN SCHOOL
With four gin-producing stills, supply and demand are always met. The Isle of Skye Distillers is proudly 100% independent and entirely funded by the Wilson brothers. The distillery is sadly not yet open to the public but we do have a swanky shop in the village where you can get lost in for hours and sample and buy all of our products.
There you’ll also find our amazing Gin School, where you can learn how to craft and distil a unique gin of your very own under the watchful eye of our Master Distiller, Alistair. It’s a fun-filled day out and the perfect way to learn more about gin, make new friends and have a good craic.