Saxa Vord: History, Whisky and Visitor Guide
The Shetland Distillery Company was formed in 2013 at the former RAF Saxa Vord station on Unst, Scotland's northernmost inhabited island. Its Shetland Reel range originally concentrated on gin.
The company also bottled whiskies under the Shetland Reel label. A 2015 blended malt was assembled from four Speyside and one Islay malt cask and reduced using Unst water, but that does not make it whisky distilled in Shetland.
History and current status
The Shetland Distillery Company was formed in 2013 at the former RAF Saxa Vord station on Unst, Scotland's northernmost inhabited island. Its Shetland Reel range originally concentrated on gin.
The company also bottled whiskies under the Shetland Reel label. A 2015 blended malt was assembled from four Speyside and one Islay malt cask and reduced using Unst water, but that does not make it whisky distilled in Shetland.
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Saxa Vord at a glance
Whisky distillation, provenance and maturation
Shetland Reel Batch 2 Blended Malt at 47% ABV is a documented sourced whisky bottling. Plans for Unst single malt distillation have been discussed over several years, but a verified mature Saxa Vord-distilled whisky could not be confirmed.
Whisky bottles and ranges
Bottles are named only where independently identifiable. Whisky offered by a business may be sourced or blended elsewhere, and the region on a label does not necessarily show where distillation occurred.
Shetland Reel Batch 2 Blended Malt
This named release is associated with the company; confirm its edition, cask, strength and production source from the bottle label.
Pictured: Shetland Reel Batch 2 Blended Malt. This is a genuine labelled whisky bottle. For sourced or blended malt, it was not necessarily distilled at the visitor site.
Awards and milestones
Only verified, named whisky bottlings should be credited with tasting awards. Site openings, redevelopment and changes of ownership are historical milestones, not medals.
Visitor information
The site has advertised distillery shop visits and tours by advance booking. The company's current visitor arrangements need checking before travel to Unst.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the producer?
Haroldswick, Unst, Shetland
Is it an operating whisky distillery?
Working gin distillery; historic sourced whisky bottlings. See the research notes above.
Which whisky bottles are associated?
Shetland Reel Batch 2 Blended Malt
Can you visit?
The site has advertised distillery shop visits and tours by advance booking. The company's current visitor arrangements need checking before travel to Unst.
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Sources and photograph credits
Research checked 23 October 2026. All external links are collected at the bottom to keep readers on Whisky Clan.
About Whisky Clan
Whisky Clan researches distillery histories, bottle provenance and visitor information and welcomes corrections supported by evidence.
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