Meet the Producers -
Outlier Distilling Company

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

We’re the Outlier Distilling Company, a craft distillery set up at Ballakelly Farm in Andreas. We make interesting and delicious spirits in as sustainable a way as possible.

When did you establish your business?

We set up the company in late 2019, but only broke ground in 2020, as the pandemic got in the way. 

What inspired you to begin?

Ian’s a winemaker-turned distiller, Rick is a journalist-turned marketeer. When we met, we realised we had complimentary skills and got along really well, so decided to make some great booze together. 

How has your business grown since then?

A challenging time to start, but we’ve released a number of small batch spirits leading up to the launch of Hoolie Manx rum, our flagship spirit. It’s properly Manx - made here on Island. Hoolie is currently 5 star rated on Master of Malt and we’re making inroads into the cocktail trade of the North West of England. 

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

We’re based at Ballakelly Farm, but we try to get about. We’ve held events in Ramsey, Douglas, and Port Erin. We’re both comeovers, and are trying to put back into the Island and community, what we feel we’ve been given. It’s an amazing place to live and raise a family.

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

This is will be the first for Outlier to exhibit at. It will be great to meet, greet, and treat the Manx public. Hoolie rum is a great cocktail ingredient, and we’re looking forward to introducing that to people at the festival. 

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

Just looking forward to trying out as much great local produce as possible! You’ve got to support local!

What’s on the horizon for your business?

We’ve got our eyes on high-end, creative cocktail outlets in the UK. Mixologists have really liked our rum, so we’re trying to get a foothold in that world; get on some key menus. We also want to continue to support local events. We’ve sponsored Battle of the Bands, Moonlight Discotheque (aka Peggy’s), Ramsey Golf Course, as well as hosting some of our own events. 

What is your signature dish/product?

Hoolie Manx rum: 41%, 70cl. Available to buy through our website (www.outlierdistilling.com), Wine Cellar and Bottle Monkey.