Isle of Barra Distillers, the award-winning spirits producer based in the Outer Hebrides, has exceeded its ambitious £800,000 crowdfunding target, raising nearly £900,000 to fund the construction of a new purpose-built whisky and gin distillery on the Isle of Barra.
The campaign, launched via Crowdcube, has attracted 574 investors, demonstrating strong public support for the project and the brand’s vision for the future.
Founded in 2017, Isle of Barra Distillers has quickly established itself with its acclaimed gin, which recently received a Master medal at The Design & Packaging Masters 2023 – the highest honour in the competition.
The company’s products are already available in major UK supermarkets such as Waitrose, and it has recently secured a significant export deal to bring its spirits to India.
The new distillery, estimated to cost around £12 million, will be a landmark addition to the island, creating sustainable employment opportunities and boosting the local economy.
The company has already secured planning permission and land for the development, with the funds raised through the share offer set to accelerate the project’s progress.
Co-founder Michael Morrison commented on the milestone: “We have been working towards this day for a long time, years in the making, and we wanted the time to be right, for it Isle of Barra Distillers Surpasses £800,000 Crowdfunding Target to Build Landmark Whisky Distilleryto be the right time to open up our business and invite you in to be part of it, and now is that time… The potential that the Isle of Barra Distillers has is immense, the lasting, positive impact we can make both here on the Isle of Barra and also across the Outer Hebrides, it can’t be underplayed.
“Our new whisky distillery will be a landmark addition to our home here on Barra, creating sustainable employment and providing experiences to the team that will work there, something that the Isle of Barra can be really proud of and with you, we can make that happen”.
The share offer, with a price of £3.75 per share, is set to close in the coming days, marking a pivotal moment for both the business and the local community.
The company is also pursuing B Corp status, underlining its commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
With this successful crowdfunding round, Isle of Barra Distillers is poised to become a key player in Scotland’s whisky industry, while bringing new opportunities and pride to one of the country’s most remote island communities.
