Take a group of five strangers who met on a Scottish Island, a shared love of gin and a passion for the island they call home and what do you get? Isle of Cumbrae Distillers. Launched in September 2020 by one of the only all-female distilling teams in Scotland, and the only international team, with representation from the UK, Canada and the US, Isle of Cumbrae Distillers hold a notable position as being one of only 3 Scottish gin distilleries to successfully launch during the pandemic.

Isle of Cumbrae Distillers is owned and operated by 5 women: Bronwyn Jenkins-Deas, Juli Dempsey, Jenine Ward, Philippa Dalton and Lynda Gill, who met as strangers - in a Millport bar - in 2019, became fast friends and decided to open a gin distillery...of course!

The idea for an island distillery originated as a way to help their community of Millport raise funds for its town hall, which is derelict and needs £3 million in renovations to reopen. They were also motivated by the possibility of a distillery providing meaningful work opportunities and skills to young islanders.

While collectively the team has decades of life and work experience between them, they knew nothing about the food and drinks industry. In this regard they started from scratch; none of the group knew anything about distilling...or licensing (which they quickly learned meant 7 complex applications)! They also didn't know that 6 months after they incorporated, the world would be paralysed by a pandemic. Talk about a business challenge! In the end, they turned the challenges of the pandemic into an opportunity to learn. And they have indeed learned...a lot!!! From distilling to licensing to branding their products, to social media campaigns, these 'can do' women have done everything on their own, learning new things every step of the way...and loving every moment of the journey.

Since opening in September 2020, with their signature gin, Nostalgin, Isle of Cumbrae Distillers quickly moved to develop their second gin, Croc Rock Gin. Both have won international awards in their first year. In June 2020, the business expanded to include tours and tastings. Their one hour tour takes visitors through the fascinating history of gin, selecting some of the interesting women who featured, as well as introducing guests to the colourful smuggling history of the Clyde and the establishment of the town of Millport. Tours including a signature gin and tonic, tastings of both their gins and a souvenir glass to take home.