Meet the Producers -
Kella Distillers

For any newcomers, who are you and what do you do?

We are a small, family-run distillery creating two unique spirit drinks. We re-distil pure malt whisky to craft ‘ManX’ Manx Spirit, and VS Cognac to create Bifrost Manx Spirit; both are drinks which retain the characteristic flavours and aromas of the spirits from which we start, while our processes impart a smoothness that sets them apart as craft spirit drinks of exceptional quality.

When did you establish your business?

The distillery was first founded in 1976 by Lucian Landau (once he had successfully fought to have the laws on the Island changed to allow distilling to take place at all!), and it has been part of our family since 1990 when Andi took on the business. Now, with Andi’s daughter Becki and her husband Alan at the helm – Andi never far away to guide them - the torch has passed to the second generation of distillers in the family.

What inspired you to begin?

The foundations of what Lucian was doing really resonated with Andi, and they soon became as passionate about the processes and the reasons behind carrying them out, as the original creator. This passion for innovation, and crafting quality spirit drinks has been at the heart of what we’ve been doing for over 30 years.

How has your business grown since then?

Over the last 40 years, the spirits produced at the Kella Mill have been enjoyed by audiences worldwide, and we are delighted to be working with online distributor, HardToFindWhisky.com, to meet the demand for both of our products around the world.

Where are you based and what does that community mean to you?

We are based in Sulby, though the family live just outside of Port St Mary – the journey up over The Sloc, through Foxdale and Kirk Michael on the way to and from the distillery is a particular favourite drive (thankfully!), and the village of Sulby is a beautiful community we are proud to be a very small part of in our own way.

What does the Isle of Man Food & Drink Festival mean to you?

The IOM Food and Drink Festival is a highlight of the year particularly for Becki, who loves to meet and chat with everyone who stops by the stand; locals and visitors to the Island alike. Getting to be a part of such a fantastic event, where so many passionate producers all get together to share their love for their products and the Island we call home, is something we look forward to each year.

Which other local producer(s) are you most looking forward to seeing this year?

We love to connect with producers who are new to the Festival each year, as well as catching up with producers we’ve met at previous events – that is, is if we get so much as a minute’s break from our stand to have a skeet round, of course!

What’s on the horizon for your business?

Who knows what’s on the horizon – but we are always excited to see where life takes us!

What is your signature dish/product?

Our signature product is probably ManX which is 25 years old this year!