Lerwick Distillery
Lerwick Distillery is Shetland's first legal whisky distillery, opened in 2025 in Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands — at latitude 60°N, one of the most northerly working distilleries on earth. The company was established in 2022 by Martin Watt and Calum Miller, with Master Distiller Ian Millar, who trained at Balvenie and Glenfiddich, leading production. The distillery received support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and won Scottish Enterprise's Emerging Whisky Brand Award in 2025.
Water for production is drawn from rare Palaeozoic metamorphic rock springs, giving the water a mineral profile unique to the Shetland geology. Annual production capacity is approximately 200,000 litres. While the first Shetland-distilled single malt continues to mature, the distillery releases a series of blended malts under the Nørn brand, using sourced whisky to build the business ahead of own-distillate releases.
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Tours
Available
On-site Shop
Open
Online Shop
Available
History
Lerwick Distillery Ltd was established in 2022 with the ambition of becoming Shetland's first whisky distillery. After securing funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and building a team led by Master Distiller Ian Millar, the distillery opened in 2025 at Whisky Lane, Market Street, Lerwick, Shetland. The location is appropriate: Market Street runs through the heart of Lerwick, and the "Whisky Lane" address reflects both the building's purpose and the Norse heritage of the island.
The current product portfolio comprises blended malts bottled under the Nørn brand and a Smoorikin range while the first Shetland-distilled single malt matures on-site. The Nørn name references the extinct Norse language historically spoken in Shetland, connecting the distillery to the islands' deep Scandinavian heritage. The Up Helly Aa Limited Edition honours Lerwick's spectacular annual Viking fire festival.
Production
Lerwick operates with an annual capacity of approximately 200,000 litres. Water is sourced from Palaeozoic metamorphic rock springs — the ancient geology of Shetland provides mineral-rich, exceptionally pure water. The distillery is positioned at one of the northernmost latitudes of any working Scotch whisky distillery. The extreme northern climate — with long summer days and cold winters — creates unusual maturation conditions that are expected to differentiate the eventual single malt character.
Tasting Character
[!question] Gap — Lerwick's own single malt is still maturing; first release expected in coming years. The Nørn blended malts provide the current portfolio:
The current sourced-malt releases include:
- Nørn Atlantic Edition — Entry-level blended malt; maritime and approachable
- Nørn Aurora — 8 Year Old; American oak with Caribbean rum finish; vanilla, tropical fruit, and warmth
- Nørn Genesis — 12 Year Old; American oak with sherry barrique; rich and complex; limited
- Smoorikin Batch 2 — 14 Year Old blended malt; mature and refined
What They Produce
Notable Bottlings
- Nørn Atlantic Edition — Blended malt; maritime character; entry point for the range
- Nørn Aurora — 8 Year Old; American oak + Caribbean rum finish; tropical fruit and vanilla
- Nørn Genesis — 12 Year Old; sherry barrique finish; rich and limited
- Smoorikin Batch 2 — 14 Year Old blended malt; mature depth
- Up Helly Aa 2026 Limited Edition — 8 Year Old blended Scotch; honouring Lerwick's Viking fire festival; annual release
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Visiting
The distillery at Whisky Lane, Market Street, Lerwick, welcomes visitors. Tours available include "The Wild Shetland Whisky Experience" and private hire options. An online shop sells whisky, clothing, and Shetland artisan gifts. A physical shop is on site. For booking and current availability, see shetlandwhisky.com.
Official Website
