Dunnet Bay

Dunnet Bay Distillers has unveiled plans to expand its range of craft spirits on the back of a £300k investment.

The Rock Rose Gin maker will launch a new Winter Edition of its flagship line this month, followed by “four new products, including new formats for Rock Rose Gin” over the coming year, said co-founder Martin Murray. One of these was a brand new sloe gin line that would launch before the end of 2017, he added.

Dunnet Martin

Dunnet Bay’s Martin Murray: brand saw “exceptional” gin growth in 2017

It follows a £50k investment into a second 500-litre still at the distiller’s Scottish base, which it said would allow it to quadruple production. It has also doubled staff numbers and ploughed £250k into a new visitor centre and retail outlet, set to open in the first quarter of 2018.

Gin growth had been “exceptional” over the past year, said Murray, with sales up 50%, while vodka sales had risen 20% year on year. “2018 is going to be an exciting year for us. We are now exporting to Asia and are going from strength to strength in Europe.”

Rock Rose Gin added £106k to its value this year, bringing its total worth to £148k [Nielsen 52 w/e 9 September 2017]. It recently launched into 12 John Lewis stores, following a trial in “key flagship stores”, and was currently “activating a big sampling campaign” with the retailer, added Murray.

In September, Dunnet Bay unveiled an Autumn Edition of Rock Rose, featuring a “seasonal variation” on Rock Rose’s mixture of botanicals, including blackberries, raspberries, Vietnamese coriander and nasturtium (rsp: £37.50).