Dumfriesshire's Oro Gin topping up spirits offering with rum and vodka

From left: sales ambassador Vitor Guardia, master distiller Ray Clynick Jnr, and GM John Coombes. Picture: contributed. | Other 3rd Party

A family-owned premium gin business that focuses on distilling “as a science not a craft” is broadening its range of spirits and seeing strong demand for its mail order cocktail offering.

It comes after Oro Gin, whose distillery is located just outside Dalton in Dumfriesshire, was recently announced as joining the ranks of spirits firms producing hand sanitiser, supplying organisations such as the Ministry of Defence and Scottish Prison Service.

Co-founder and master distiller Ray Clynick Jnr – who has a chemical biology background – told The Scotsman that its rum that has been ageing since April 2018 in an Oloroso Sherry cask will debut imminently.

Initially, the business will be launching a limited release of 25 signature bottles, coming in a special limited edition bag and with papers of authenticity and cask lineage. “We have our larger barrels, Pedro Ximenez casks, to launch just after the summer – so this will be the full launch of our luxury Scottish rum.

The spirits firm focuses on distilling 'as a science not a craft'. Picture: contributed. | Other 3rd Party

Gin specialist Oro to top up export growth

With the summer rum launch we want this to be an accessible product for the market,” said Clynick Jnr.

He also outlined the firm’s planned move into making Scottish vodka from local potatoes that cannot be used for, say, size. “Equally, through the year we will also release an Ayrshire potato vodka, when the season is right.

“We really want the vodka to be a price point where bars can work with it for cocktails and house pours. It will be a simple yet elegant product, using potatoes from only two miles away,” the gin boss also stated.

Cocktails

Oro Gin has just pushed the button on its Project XX that will include many different products and experiences, the first being the Signature Cocktail Collection.

The latter sees the firm send out its signature collection cocktail to consumers, who just need to shake/stir and add ice. Clynick Jnr – a graduate of the Heriot–Watt International Centre for Brewing and Distilling – said the offering has proved very popular during lockdown, for example for online parties.

It comes after the spirits firm announced at the start of last month that Clynick Jnr had been working with his team of chemists to produce hand sanitiser for recipients that also include pharmacy staff, NHS workers including blood bikers, care workers, Air Ambulance, vets, Scottish Water, Royal Mail, transport and retail workers, using a recipe approved by The World Health Organisation.

He said at the time that the firm was “fully committed to making sanitiser for as long as it’s needed,” and it is now still seeing good demand, serving large organisations.

The firm in January won three awards at this year’s World Gin Awards, including one for its bespoke collaboration with landmark Edinburgh hotel Intercontinental The George for its Number Nineteen expression.

Oro Gin’s flagship Oro and Oro V recipes incorporate cassia bark, Malabar cardamom, pink peppercorns and lemongrass, with one other signature botanical “that will forever remain secret”.

Clynick Jrn said at the time: “Our goal for 2020 is to keep growing the business, develop further our export channels and continue working with some amazing suppliers and partners.”

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