Hello from the croft! We hope you are all enjoying these long Hebridean summer days as much as we are. Life on the Isle of Lewis has been a whirlwind since our last update, shifting from the raw, unpredictable weather of spring to the vibrant warmth of our island community in full swing.

Weathering the Storm & Rebuilding the Croft

When we last wrote, we were bracing ourselves for the April lambing season. Mother Nature decided to test us with some incredibly brutal weather. The relentless, freezing storms made it incredibly hard going on the ground.

Sadly, despite our very best efforts and round-the-clock care, the horrible conditions took a toll, and we suffered some heartbreaking losses among the newborn lambs. It is the toughest part of crofting life, and it always leaves a heavy cloud over us. But as any crofter knows, you have to keep moving forward, even in the hard times.

Looking ahead, we finally have some good news. You might remember that a horrible winter gale completely lifted the roof off our main lambing shed back in November. We are very pleased to say that the new materials have finally arrived on the croft! Over the next few weeks, my brother and I will be rolling up our sleeves to get the new roof completely fitted, ensuring the shed is fully secure and cozy well before the winter rolls around.

 

Sunshine, Cruise Ships, and Baled Hay

Following that challenging spring, the summer months arrived with a very welcome change of pace. Stornoway has been absolutely buzzing! It has been wonderful to see the town centre so lively, filled with cruise ship passengers and holidaymakers exploring our beautiful historic sites, stunning beaches, and local shops.

Best of all, the island was finally treated to a brilliant spell of sunshine. We didn't waste a single second of the good weather; we successfully got all of our hay cut and baled, securing a fantastic store of tasty winter feed for our livestock.

 

Ceilidhing at HebCelt &  A New Surprise

July also brought one of our absolute favourite times of the year—the Hebridean Celtic Festival! We were incredibly proud to support HebCelt once again this year. There is nothing quite like the atmosphere in Stornoway when the festival is in town, celebrating our vibrant Gaelic culture, incredible live music, and community spirit. Raising a glass of our Stornoway Dry Gin with friends old and new against the backdrop of Lews Castle is always a highlight of our summer.

 

Happy 2nd Birthday to Us!

Amidst all the summer bustle, today marks a massive milestone for us. Happy 2nd Birthday to Lews Distillery! We are officially two years old today, and we can hardly believe how fast the time has flown. From a dream on the croft to winning international medals and sharing our spirits with all of you, it has been an incredible ride. We hope you will all join us in raising a glass tonight!

 

To top off an already fantastic season, we have some incredibly exciting news. We have a brand-new product coming very soon! We are keeping the exact details under wraps for just a little longer, but we are absolutely bursting to share it with you all. Keep a close eye on your inbox over the coming weeks for the more info.

Thank you, as always, for being such a important part of our distillery and crofting life.

Slàinte,

David & Karen x