Cookies
Cookie Policy
Last Updated: 08/009/2026
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains how Island Spirit Whisky Shop ("we", "our", "us") uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit our website.
It explains what cookies are, why we use them, the types of cookies we use, and the choices available to you regarding their use.
This Cookie Policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use and protect your personal information.
Where required by applicable law, we will ask for your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your computer, smartphone or other device when you visit a website.
Cookies allow websites to:
- operate correctly;
- remember your preferences;
- keep your shopping basket active;
- improve website performance;
- understand how visitors use a website;
- enhance security.
Cookies may either be:
Session Cookies
These exist only while your browser remains open and are deleted when your browsing session ends.
Persistent Cookies
These remain on your device for a defined period or until you delete them manually.
Cookies do not normally identify you personally. However, where cookies collect information that can identify you, that information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
3. Why We Use Cookies
We use cookies to:
- provide the core functionality of our website;
- enable online shopping and secure checkout;
- process payments securely;
- remember your shopping basket;
- maintain customer login sessions;
- remember your preferences;
- improve website performance;
- understand visitor behaviour;
- help detect fraudulent activity;
- measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns where applicable.
4. Categories of Cookies We Use
|
Cookie Category |
Purpose |
Essential |
Typical Retention |
|
Strictly Necessary |
Enables shopping basket, checkout, customer login, fraud prevention and website security. |
✔ |
Session to 2 years |
|
Preference |
Remembers customer preferences such as region and website settings. |
No |
Up to 1 year |
|
Analytics |
Helps us understand website performance and visitor behaviour. |
No |
Up to 2 years |
|
Marketing |
Measures advertising performance and supports personalised advertising. |
No |
Up to 2 years |
|
Security |
Protects customer accounts and detects fraudulent activity. |
✔ |
Session to 2 years |
5. Third-Party Services
Our website is built using Shopify and may use cookies from trusted third-party providers.
Depending on the services enabled on our website, these may include:
|
Service |
Purpose |
|
Shopify |
Shopping basket, checkout, website functionality and security |
|
Payment Providers |
Secure payment processing and fraud prevention |
|
Google Analytics (if enabled) |
Website analytics |
|
Google Ads (if enabled) |
Advertising measurement and conversions |
|
Meta Pixel (if enabled) |
Advertising measurement and remarketing |
|
Email Marketing Provider (if enabled) |
Newsletter performance and customer engagement |
|
Customer Review Platforms (if enabled) |
Product reviews and customer feedback |
These providers may process information in accordance with their own Privacy and Cookie Policies.
6. Managing Cookies
When you first visit our website, you may be presented with a cookie consent banner.
Where required by law, you may choose whether to accept or reject non-essential cookies.
You may also control cookies through your browser settings.
Most web browsers allow you to:
- view cookies;
- delete cookies;
- block cookies;
- receive notifications before cookies are stored.
Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the operation of our website.
Without essential cookies, you may be unable to:
- add products to your shopping basket;
- complete checkout;
- log into your account;
- remember website preferences.
7. Consent
Strictly Necessary Cookies are required for the operation of our website and cannot be disabled through our website.
All other cookies will only be used where you have provided your consent, where required by law.
You may withdraw or update your consent at any time by using our cookie preferences tool (where available) or by changing your browser settings.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect:
- changes in legislation;
- improvements to our website;
- changes to Shopify or third-party services;
- changes to the cookies we use.
The latest version will always be published on this page together with the updated revision date.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us.
Island Spirit Whisky Shop
Email: sales@islandspiritwhisky.com
Telephone: 07555697540
Address: The Island Spirit Whisky Shop, 38 Cromwell St, Stornoway HS1 2DD
Appendix A – Common Shopify Cookies
The table below lists some of the common cookies that may be used on Shopify-powered websites. Shopify may add, remove or modify cookies from time to time as its platform evolves.
|
Cookie |
Purpose |
Typical Expiry |
|
_shopify_y |
Analytics identifier used to distinguish visitors. |
1 year |
|
_shopify_s |
Analytics session identifier. |
30 minutes |
|
_shopify_sa_p |
Tracks landing pages for marketing attribution. |
30 minutes |
|
_shopify_sa_t |
Tracks referral source for analytics. |
30 minutes |
|
_tracking_consent |
Stores your cookie consent preferences. |
1 year |
|
_landing_page |
Records the page you first entered the website from. |
2 weeks |
|
_orig_referrer |
Stores the referring website to help understand visitor journeys. |
2 weeks |
|
cart |
Identifies your shopping basket. |
2 weeks |
|
cart_currency |
Stores your selected currency where applicable. |
2 weeks |
|
cart_sig |
Verifies the integrity of the shopping basket. |
2 weeks |
|
cart_ts |
Records when the shopping basket was last updated. |
2 weeks |
|
checkout |
Supports the secure checkout process. |
Session |
|
checkout_token |
Securely identifies the checkout session. |
Session |
|
secure_customer_sig |
Identifies logged-in customer sessions securely. |
1 year |
|
keep_alive |
Maintains secure customer sessions during checkout. |
Session |
|
localization |
Stores regional preferences. |
1 year |
|
shopify_pay_redirect |
Supports Shopify Payments during checkout. |
Session |
|
storefront_digest |
Determines whether a customer has access to password-protected areas where applicable. |
2 years |
Appendix B – Third-Party Cookies
Depending on the services enabled on our website, third-party providers may also place cookies.
These may include:
|
Provider |
Purpose |
|
Google Analytics |
Website traffic analysis and performance reporting |
|
Google Ads |
Advertising performance and conversion tracking |
|
Meta (Facebook & Instagram) |
Advertising measurement and remarketing |
|
Payment Providers |
Secure payment processing and fraud prevention |
|
Email Marketing Platforms |
Newsletter engagement and campaign measurement |
|
Customer Review Platforms |
Displaying reviews and collecting customer feedback |
Only those services that are enabled on our website will place cookies on your device.
Appendix C – Your Choices
You can control cookies in several ways:
- Accept or reject non-essential cookies using our cookie consent banner.
- Update your cookie preferences at any time using our cookie settings tool (where available).
- Delete cookies through your web browser.
- Configure your browser to block some or all cookies.
Please be aware that disabling certain cookies may affect your experience and prevent some features of our website from functioning correctly.
For more information about cookies generally, you can visit the website of the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).