Introducing Mandy - our beekeeper!

We are buzzing to share the news that we have bees at Darnley's!

Behind our Gin Cottage in the East Neuk of Fife we have recently welcomed a hive of bees from our local beekeeper-supreme, and part time tour guide here at the distillery, Mandy!

Mandy has owned and cared for bees for over 15 years and currently has four hives in her care, one of which we are lucky enough to have on site at our gin cottage in Fife. We are now proud owners of our very own polyhive. Polyhives, made from polystyrene, are becoming increasingly popular among beekeepers due to their durability, light weight, and ease of maintenance. Polyhives are also known for their insulation properties, which can help to regulate the temperature within the hive and protect the bees from extreme weather conditions and the blustery Scottish winds. 

In the height of Summer we will have up to 10,000 buzzing friends pollinating our budding botanicals, which will help them to thrive.

Words from Mandy:

"Bees are hugely important to us. They are great pollinators and about one third of our food is dependant on pollinators. As Einstein said “If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.”. I want to raise awareness of just how important this species is to humans and our ecosystem."

It's currently too cold for our hive to explore, so in the meantime Mandy is feeding them a mixture of fondant (the kind you put on cakes) and sugar water to keep them going. If you're visiting us in the near future, keep your eyes peeled as it's only a matter of time before they're active! 🐝