Robertson Pens Scotland

Handcrafted pens and gifts from reclaimed Scottish whisky barrels

Robertson Pens Scotland is a small craft and gift business based in the North East of Scotland. It makes handcrafted pens and other items primarily from reclaimed Scottish whisky barrels, a material the maker describes as giving new life to wood with a history and character of its own. The workshop also works with bamboo, wood, glass and slate.

The business began seven years ago as a hobby, with the maker producing handmade gifts for friends and family. As interest grew, the range expanded and the items are now offered to enthusiasts and collectors internationally. The site states that the maker had accumulated more than 800 customers on Etsy before moving to direct worldwide sales.

Collections on offer

The catalogue is organised into several themed lines, each built around a different material or occasion:

• Whisky Barrel collection: pieces turned from Scottish whisky barrels, presented as objects that combine tradition with a contemporary finish.
• Wedding collection: personalised fountain pens for signing a marriage certificate, alongside other items intended for the wedding day.
• Slate collection: fully customisable slate pieces such as clocks and coasters for home decoration.
• Artisanal pens: handcrafted writing instruments made with an emphasis on precision and finish.
• Bamboo and wood items: a separate line of turned and crafted objects in these materials.
• Glassware: glass pieces listed as part of the shop range.

Personalisation and laser engraving

Customisation runs through much of the range. Slate coasters, placemats and platters can be laser engraved to a customer's own requirements and designs, and the site includes a dedicated option to design your own piece. The wedding line applies the same idea to ceremony pens and related items, allowing a personal inscription or design to be added to an otherwise handmade object.

Materials and approach

The defining material is reclaimed whisky barrel wood, which the maker sources as authentic Scottish barrel stock and reworks into pens and gifts. The stated aim is that each piece functions both as a usable object and as a crafted item in its own right, with the sustainability of reusing existing material presented as part of the product's value. Bamboo, wood, glass and slate extend the range beyond the barrel-derived pieces.

Customers and sales

The business describes its audience as enthusiasts and collectors of handmade pens and gifts, and reports having served more than 800 customers through Etsy before selling directly to buyers worldwide. Orders are shipped internationally, and the site maintains a separate delivery section covering shipping information.