Isle of Mull Cheese is expanding into spirits with the launch of a cream liqueur made using whey from its cheesemaking process.
Developed by Lily Reade, granddaughter of founder Chris Reade, the Isle of Mull Hebridean Cream Liqueur is produced at the family-run Sgriob-ruadh Dairy Farm and Distillery on the Isle of Mull.
The 17% ABV drink combines aged spirit made from whey, a by-product of cheesemaking, with cream from the farm’s own milk. The blend is aged with oak and has notes of caramel, toasted nuts, vanilla and cocoa.
“I’ve grown up watching my family make something from whatever the farm and the island gives us,” said Ms Reade. “Whether it was milk from the cows or rhubarb from the plentiful patches growing on the land, very little went to waste – there was always an idea to turn it into something we could eat, drink or share with others. This ethos extends to the production processes we use, fully powered by sustainable energy created using island resources.
“That way of thinking has always stayed with me, so in partnership with my family we created Isle of Mull Hebridean Cream Liqueur, a product which brings together so many parts of what we do here. It uses the whey left from our cheesemaking to create the spirit, which is then blended with cream from our cows, bringing together so many areas of our expertise to create a liqueur we believe will appeal to people across the world.”
The product is presented in a ceramic bottle featuring patterns made using materials collected on the farm, including cow hair, leaves and foliage. These were raku-fired onto tiles to create the prints used in the bottle design.
The 50cl liqueur will be available from 27 October, with an RRP of £29.99. The initial release is limited to 600 bottles, available online and from the Isle of Mull Cheese Glass Barn Farm Shop. The first 100 bottles will include a gift bag handmade on the farm by Reade’s grandmother, Chris.
The launch marks a new venture for the family business, which was established by Chris Reade 46 years ago and has since become an internationally recognised producer of Isle of Mull cheese.
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