Orkney Brewery’s Dark Island Reserve Scoops Up Top National Award
Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards - Orkney Brewery
Orkney Brewery’s Dark Island Reserve ale has scooped up a prestigious national food and drink honour.
The world famous 10 per cent speciality brew came out top in the Drinks – Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic category of the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence awards 2013. The Orkney Brewery was the only Scottish brewer with a drink product in the finals.
Run in partnership with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards have been recognising and rewarding the very best in Scottish food and drink for many years.
Competition judges tasted 121 food and drink products and examined submissions from 100 businesses across Scotland. In all, 39 Scottish businesses were shortlisted across 17 different product and business excellence award categories, with the winners revealed at a special ceremony in Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms on 30 May.
“It was an enormous privilege to be part of such a prestigious event and we’re really delighted to have come away with this award,” said Norman Sinclair, managing director of the Orkney Brewery’s parent company, Sinclair Breweries Ltd. “We were honoured to be the only Scottish brewer with a shortlisted product, so securing a win was really the icing on the cake for us on what was a fantastic night all round.
“Dark Island Reserve epitomises all the passion we have for our brewing craft in Orkney,” added Mr Sinclair. “It’s won us many awards over the years, thanks to its unique taste and high quality, and we were very proud to see it recognised once again at this flagship competition.”
Dark Island Reserve is created by maturing Orkney Brewery’s iconic and award winning Dark Island Ale in aged malt whisky casks for three months. Produced in limited quantities and for exclusive markets, Dark Island Reserve is renowned for its flavours of smooth roast malt, dark chocolate, caramel, figs and dates, which combine with vanilla, spice and bitter orange flavours from the wood and whisky.
The accompanying image shows Norman Sinclair (centre) receiving the Orkney Brewery’s award from event host Hardeep Singh Kohli (left) and Andrew Kenny of category sponsor Asda (right). An image of Dark Island Reserve is also attached.
