’Our focus isn’t purely on the bottom line. We want to do things that are interesting to us and to other people,’ says Rick Dacey.

Rick, along with Ian Warborn-Jones is co-owner of Outlier Distilling Company, which set up its HQ and distillery earlier this year in a converted barn at Ballakelly Farm, in Andreas.

They have just launched their first spirit, a flavoursome, small-batch Manx schnapps made from locally foraged blackberries and elderberries.

’Hedge Fund’, a 45% ABV clear schnapps, has also become the first drink to be awarded the Isle of Man’s ’Product of’ label of provenance.

To achieve this designation Ian and Rick had to show that the principal ingredients, in this case water and berries, were grown, reared, caught and processed entirely in the island.

Ian and Rick could guarantee that as they had picked all the blackberries and elderberries, themselves on and around Ballakelly Farm and Andreas.

These were then fermented into a fruit wine, then distilled on site in Outlier’s 200-litre wood-fired still.

Ian says: ’We’re really pleased how Hedge Fund has come out. It’s a very smooth Germanic style schnapps with a great berry aftertaste and an incredible fruity aroma.’

Rick adds: ’Hedge Fund is Outlier’s first small step into the world so we’re doubly proud that it’s the first drink to receive the ’Product of’ label.

’We’re really looking forward to putting more great drinks on tables and shelves next year.

’We’re currently distilling rum ready to age for launch in 2021 and we’re also set to produce vodka and other small batch spirits.’

So why choose schnapps as a first dip into the marketplace?

Rick explains that it was a ’proof of concept’, a way of assuring themselves that every aspect of the production and marketing worked well in a small batch. Schnapps was ideal because it also takes a comparatively short time to mature.

The quirky image of the ’blackberry banker’ on the label was created by local artist, Kieran Hannifin.

’Rick says: ’The idea is that we will continue to create some fun, quirky smaller batches and use different local artists to illustrate each one.’

So for those of us who rarely drink schnapps, what is the best way to enjoy it?

Rick says: ’Our recommendation is to drink it as a post-dinner digestif but you can also use it in a Bramble cocktail instead of gin. We’ve tried it and it’s very nice.

’It’s certainly been fun product testing.’

Even the pigs who are reared at Ballakelly Farm by Alan and Rachel Teare, have got in on the act: their older, retired sows were fed the berries after the fermentation process.

Rachel says: ’It’s something we’d like to do more of as Outlier gets bigger, using the by- products for feed so it makes a full circle.

’This time it was a treat for our ’retired ladies’ and I’m sure they loved it.’

l Hedge Fund is a limited edition release and will be available for sale through local craft beer shop Bottle Monkey from Thursday, November 26.

It can be ordered through the Bottle Monkey shop: https://bottlemonkey.im/shop/outlierschnapps The 20cl bottles have a RRP of £20.

l The Isle of Man Provenance label scheme is run by the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture. Find out more here: https://www.iomfoodanddrink.com/provenance-label/