A popular Highland spirits brand is set to be revived after a four-year hiatus. Loch Ness Spirits has been bought by drinks industry veteran Donald MacLellan, who plans to relaunch the range with a focus on single malt scotch whisky.
Loch Ness Spirits was founded in 2016 as a family-owned business near Dores. The gin brand developed a strong following with a focus on hand-foraged juniper from the banks of Loch Ness.
Following an agreement to purchase the company’s assets in 2023, MacLellan has now launched a new venture – Spirit of Loch Ness – which aims to bring the brands back to life based on the strong foundations laid by the original owners.
The brand’s original gin and absinthe have been brought back to the market alongside a new vodka and single malt Scotch whisky, distilled and matured in the Highland region.
East Kilbride-based Select Drams will be the launch distributor in the UK, while a number of other wholesalers and distributors are working with the business to ensure its success domestically and across the international market.
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.”
“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.”
While the original business relied on local sales and tourism-focused trade, Spirit of Loch Ness is aiming to create a global success story, backed by Donald MacLellan’s extensive experience in international product brand development and export, as founder and owner of Meridian Global Brands, which specialises in Route-to-Market strategies connecting great products with the right consumers.
