Donald MacLellan launches Spirit of Loch Ness, adding a single malt Scotch whisky to the range
Loch Ness Spirits, the gin brand founded in 2016 as a family-owned business near Dores, is to be relaunched following a four-year hiatus. The company has been bought by drinks industry veteran Donald MacLellan, who plans to focus the revived range on single malt Scotch whisky.
The original gin brand built a following based on hand-foraged juniper gathered from the banks of Loch Ness. Following an agreement to purchase the company’s assets in 2023, MacLellan has launched a new venture, Spirit of Loch Ness, which the company says aims to bring the brands back to life based on the foundations laid by the original owners.
The relaunch brings back the brand’s original gin and absinthe, alongside a new vodka and a single malt Scotch whisky distilled and matured in the Highland region. East Kilbride-based Select Drams will be the launch distributor in the UK, with other wholesalers and distributors also working with the business domestically and internationally.
Donald MacLellan said: “The Scottish Highlands has a unique reputation around the world for producing the highest quality premium drinks. I’ve spent several decades working with producers, suppliers, exporters and buyers and there’s something special when you introduce drinks from that part of Scotland to the world. The drinks industry, like so many others, is facing its own challenges in an uncertain global economy, but the appetite for new Scottish brands is there and this feels like the right moment to revive a brand that has all the foundations to become an amazing success story and a big part of the sustainable long-term future of Scotland’s vital food and drink sector.”
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He added: “The very heart of our brand is the local community around Loch Ness, which is celebrated around the world. I’m passionate about making Spirit of Loch Ness an international success story and ensuring that the communities around this special place directly benefit from its growth, with sustainability, land management and cultural support to ensure that the Loch Ness region remains a cherished asset for future generations.”
According to the release, the original business relied on local sales and tourism-focused trade, while Spirit of Loch Ness is aiming to create an international success, backed by MacLellan’s experience as founder and owner of Meridian Global Brands, which specialises in Route-to-Market strategies connecting products with consumers.
Gerald Erdrich, second generation owner of German distribution company and distillery Kammer-Kirsch, established in 1909, and recognised in the industry as Master of the Quaich, is among those supporting the launch. He said: “Loch Ness is world famous for the dark and mysterious waters, but it also speaks to us about the rugged lands and strong communities that have survived there for centuries. We are delighted that Donald can celebrate the Loch Ness region by bringing a quality Highland Single Malt to the International market. As importer and distributor of Scotch Single Malt whisky since the 1980s, we know the German market well and we see great potential for this authentic and passion-fueled brand.”
