A START-UP firm that has already sold 50,000 bottles of its specially-sourced water is aiming to break into the lucrative United States market with its “drop that makes the dram”.
Uisge Source has been selling waters suited to accompany Islay, Highland and Speyside malts since October, when it filled its first order for the Whisky Shop chain.
The waters – tested and selected to match the chemistry of each region’s malts – come from natural springs in their respective areas.
The company sells through distributors in the UK and five further European countries, as well as a supplier to the duty free market. It recently signed agreements in eight additional countries ranging from Australia, India and Singapore to Canada, Germany and Norway.
Graeme Lindsay, founder and managing director of Uisge Source, said he was confident that orders would come through from its new markets within a couple of months.
“I expect our volumes will increase by about one-third when we start exporting to these additional countries – but clearly the big opportunity is the US,” he said.
Discussions are already taking place with three potential partners in different parts of the US, the world’s biggest single market by value for Scotch. Lindsay hopes to secure at least one importer and begin shipping within the next six months.
Backed by an initial £500,000 from a dozen private investors and the Scottish Investment Bank, Uisge Source has set up a dedicated bottling facility within an existing plant in Moray.