Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin
Buy this ginOrkney's first dedicated gin distillery, on the harbour in Kirkwall. Kirkjuvagr (the Old Norse name for Kirkwall, pronounced 'kirk-you-vaar') uses Scapa Flow seaweed as a signature botanical alongside Orcadian angelica and burnet rose.
Flavour profile
Botanicals (11)
Eleven botanicals featuring foraged Orkney burnet rose, ancient bere barley, and seaweed from Scapa Flow — properly Orcadian
Tasting notes
Drier and more savoury than most island gins, with a clear marine umami from the Scapa Flow seaweed. The burnet rose adds a soft floral lift in the mid-palate, supported by the gentle nuttiness of bere barley. A grown-up coastal gin without the marketing fuss of bigger island brands.
Juniper, fresh sea breeze, faint rose
Dry juniper, marine umami, soft rose mid-palate, nutty bere barley underneath
Long, dry, slightly briny
How it's made
Distilled in a small copper still on the harbour in Kirkwall. Botanicals — including the burnet rose — are foraged from Orkney by the distillery team.
Perfect serve
A drier tonic lets the seaweed and rose come through. Pink grapefruit pairs better with the marine character than a standard lemon.
Beyond the G&T
Scapa Martini
Coupe- ·60ml Kirkjuvagr
- ·10ml dry vermouth
- ·Lemon peel
Stir gin and vermouth with ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe. Express lemon oils over the surface.
The seaweed and rose come through more clearly in a martini than a G&T — this is the serve to try.
Awards
A genuinely Orcadian gin without the corporate sheen of the bigger island brands. The Scapa Flow seaweed earns its place — it gives the gin a real coastal umami — and the bere barley is a nice nod to Orkney’s ancient-grain history. Pricing is fair for the level of foraging and the bottle quality. The pick of Orkney gin.
Food pairings
A natural with North Sea seafood and aged Orkney cheese.
Where to buy
Supermarket availability
Availability checked April 2026. Prices and stock may vary by store.
Visit Orkney Distilling
Tours of Orkney Distilling on the Kirkwall harbour cover the foraging story, the gin-making process, and a tutored tasting. Pair it with the Highland Park whisky distillery up the road.
Compare Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin with
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce Kirkjuvagr?
"Kirk-you-vaar" — the Old Norse name for Kirkwall, Orkney’s historic capital.
Where is Kirkjuvagr made?
On the harbour in Kirkwall, Orkney, by Orkney Distilling — the first dedicated gin distillery on the islands.
What does Kirkjuvagr taste like?
Drier and more savoury than most island gins, with a clear marine umami from Scapa Flow seaweed and a soft rose lift from burnet rose. A grown-up, less-marketed alternative to Isle of Harris.
Can you visit Orkney Distilling?
Yes — tours from £18 from the Kirkwall harbour distillery. Easy to combine with Highland Park whisky distillery on the same trip.
Similar gins
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Instantly recognisable for its cucumber-and-rose signature. Soft, floral, unmistakably restrained on the juniper. More perfumed than punchy — this is a gin for people who don't want their G&T to taste like a pine forest. The finish is clean and short, which makes it dangerously easy to drink on a warm afternoon.
The Botanist
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More complex and more juniper-led than Hendrick's, with a clear herbal Islay character that comes from the foraged botanicals. The 46% bottling strength means it stands up to a full G&T without disappearing — and it makes an exceptional martini. The thinking person's contemporary gin.
Rock Rose
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Earthy, slightly tart, with a clear juniper backbone and a distinctive rhodiola note that you don’t get in any other Scottish gin. The seasonal editions (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) are worth collecting if you’re into the brand — each one shifts the botanical profile noticeably.
Caorunn
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Edinburgh Gin
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Soft and approachable. Juniper takes a back seat to the floral heather note, with a subtle pine resin underneath. Sweet enough to drink without much fuss but lacks the bigger flavour of Hendrick’s or the structure of The Botanist. The Seaside variant is the more interesting bottle in the range.
Isle of Harris Gin
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