‘Do not drink’ warning for Orkney gin and whisky brand

Consumers are being “urgently” warned to not drink whisky or gin products from an Orkney distillery over fears they may pose a risk to health.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) said Kimbland Distillery had been producing and selling alcoholic products “without the required safety controls“.

FSS said the distillery, in Sanday, had also failed to provide evidence that its products met safety standards.

Kimbland Distillery said it had not been producing or supplying spirits for the past 18 months.

FSS said the products to be aware of were New Make Spirit of Whisky (all sizes), Sanday Tempest Gin 70cl, Sanday Sunset Gin 70cl, Sanday No.1 Gin 70cl, and filled barrels and casks.

Stuart McAdam, head of incidents at FSS, said: “Following close collaboration with the local authority, we are warning consumers not to drink any products from the Kimbland Distillery due to safety concerns.

“As we approach the festive break, we want to make sure that anyone who may have purchased these for themselves or as a gift, knows about the potential risk that these products may pose.”

FSS said it had directed enforcement authorities across Scotland to identify and contact any establishments that may be stocking these products.

The safety organisation said that while information suggested distribution was mainly localised to Orkney, the business also operated an online store, meaning products may have been sold more widely.

Kimbland Distillery is owned and operated in the island of Sanday by Sebastian Hadfield Hyde.

He told BBC Radio Orkney he was “furious and upset” as the warning had come “out of the blue”.

He said: “I’ve sold hundreds of bottles of gin over the past five years but my premises have been a building site for the last year-and-a-half.

“I haven’t been producing any spirits in that time, or supplying local wholesalers or selling through my website.”