Niall Campbell is the Brand Ambassador at Orkney Distilling Ltd – a perfect job for someone who says his passions in life are rugby, travelling and…gin!
When did you first join the Kirkjuvagr team?
That’s an interesting question. I relocated to Orkney in May 2019 for my job working in the Kirkwall Airport control tower. When I first moved, I didn’t know anyone, and was living out of a suitcase in a hotel.
I started going to the distillery as a customer for coffee, and got talking to the team, eventually (probably to get me to stop talking) they got me on board to help packaging orders from the online store or as an extra pair of hands to help on an event night.
After my training finished at the airport, I ended up with more free time so offered my services and joined the team as Brand Ambassador.
What is the best part about your role at the Orkney Distillery?
I get to travel all over telling our story and introducing people to our gins.
As the team at the distillery know, I love to speak! The building of relationships with other sellers and distillers is really good fun and I enjoy getting our product out to existing customers as well as introducing our range to people who may never have heard of us.
Plus I love gin so, it’s a win-win!
What does a typical day look like for you?
Mostly, my days are never the same. At the distillery it will be emails, phone calls, liaising with retailers and wholesalers or helping production or the odd tour for visitors.
Out and about usually entails visiting businesses who sell our gins. I am very keen to have a personal relationship with as many of them as I can – especially now that COVID restrictions are beginning to ease.
I usually tie this in with visits to the mainland for trade show events or a pop-up tasting for the public. I also can’t hit the mainland without a visit to my parents – hi Mum!
What is your favourite gin from the Kirkjuvagr range?
Without a doubt, Arkh-Angell served with Fever Tree’s Mediterranean tonic. That always goes down a treat.
I am always interested to try Arkh-Angell with other mixers too so I always love to hear customer suggestions.