This week's top 10 just happens to fall on Scottish Gin Day, and what better way to celebrate the occasion than rounding up a list of spirits to mix up your choice of martini, negroni or a simple G&T?
From a distillery located in the heart of an extinct volcano to a tipple which was included in this year’s Oscars goodie bags, here’s a selection of gins from across Scotland that would make a fine addition to any drinks cabinet.
Lind & Lime
Lind & Lime is born of the “talent, heritage and industry” of Edinburgh and its historic distilling district of Leith.
An organic spirit that seeks to redefine our perceptions of a London Dry Gin should be, utilising botanicals of juniper, coriander, angelica, liquorice, orris, fresh lime peel and aromatic pink peppercorns.
As well as tasting great, the elegant, long-necked bottle design sets this apart from any others on the shelf, available in all shapes and sizes from a sample 5cl to a whopping 1.5-litre magnum.
Igneous West Highland Dry Gin
igneousgin.co.uk
Named after a type of rock formed when magma cools and crystallises, Igneous was launched by husband and wife team Miles and Katie Pote in 2023, as the pair paid homage to their home on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.
The distillery itself is a small-scale operation nestled deep in the heart of an extinct volcano and makes use of water that has naturally been filtered through mineral-rich rock.
Further committing to a mantra of ‘Never Ever Ordinary’, every batch of spirit is unique thanks to the Igneous Ceramics Studio, where Mrs Pote crafts, fires and finishes each ceramic bottle before it is filled with their West Highland Dry Gin.
The Gin Bothy Original Bothy Gin
Angus-based producers, The Gin Bothy, made headlines this year after being asked to provide an exclusive small-batch distillation for Oscar nominee goodie bags.
Aside from a touch of glitz and glamour, what makes this brand special is its dedication to making the most of what the local land has to offer including botanicals of Scottish heather honey or pine needles.
Founder Kim Cameron said: “The principle of respect – for mountain, river and farm – is ingrained in our work and shines through in the products we’re proud to make.”
The Sassenach Wild Scottish Gin
sassenachspirits.com
Speaking of star power, here’s a tipple from a Scottish actor best known for his breakthrough role as Jamie Fraser in Outlander.
Celebrity spirits can be hit or miss, but with their Wild Scottish Gin Sam Heughan and his team have created a winner using foraged botanicals such as bramble leaf and juniper which are found across his childhood home of Dumfries and Galloway.
The result is a fresh, fruity spirit that’s sure to impress superfans and gin lovers in equal measure.
Height of Arrows
holyrooddistillery.co.uk
Arthurs Seat stands proudly behind the Holyrood Distillery: at 251m, the height of the mountain is said to be the furthest distance an archer could shoot a bow.
This historical tidbit gives their award-winning gin its name, while the spirit itself is crafted with sea salt to enhance depth of flavour and beeswax married with juniper oils for a unique, ‘silky texture’.
Rock Rose
It’s said to have taken founders Martin and Claire Murray 55 experiments to decide on the final blend of local and traditional botanicals for their Rock Rose Gin.
In the ten years since this, ‘wee taste of Caithness’ has made a big name for itself winning awards across the globe including a coveted three-star Great Taste rating.
There’s no need to chuck the beautiful ceramic bottle when you’re done either, as the team operates a pioneering scheme where gin-filled pouches are sent out to customers and then returned by post free of charge to be recycled.
The Teasmith Original
teasmithgin.com
A quirky, characterful spirit, The Teasmith Original is Scotland’s first gin to be distilled with hand-picked tea.
A two-stage method is at work here, with Ceylon tea leaves distilled separately from other botanicals like liquorice root, orange peel and coriander.
Having been left to steep in alcohol, heat is then gently applied to the still so that complex flavours can be captured for a finish that’s “delicate and sweetly warming on the palate”.
Thompson Bros Organic Mediterranean Gin
www.thompsonbrosdistillers.com
From Phil and Simon Thompson, the brothers behind one of the world’s leading whisky bars, comes the Thompson Bros Organic Mediterranean Gin.
Bursting with bergamot, citrus, rosemary and bay leaf this multi-award-winning gin is produced and bottled at the onsite distillery at the Dornoch Castle Hotel.
Find the final product online, or pay a visit to the Dornoch Distillery Bottle shop at Station Square to stock up on a selection of spirits, craft beers and organic wines.
Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin
Angelica, said to have been brought to the islands by Norsemen centuries ago, is the defining ingredient of this Orkney Gin alongside Burnet Rose, Borage an Ramanas Ros.
The name Kirkjuvagr translates to ‘Church Bay’ in old Norse in another nod to the ancient history of the isles, however, this spirit has otherwise been developed to be “utterly contemporary” and crafted with the “modern, discerning gin enthusiast in mind”.
Wolfcraig Classic Dry Gin
wolfcraig.com
Two giants of Scotland’s drinks industry are the proud ambassadors of this gin which is infused with botanicals from the landscape of Stirling.
Between them, Richard “The Nose” Paterson and Ian Macmillan have garnered decades of experience working with big names like Dalmore, Bunnahabhain, Tanqueray and Bombay Sapphire, making them the top men for the job when it came to releasing the inaugural spirit from Wolfcraig.
The team advises their gin is best served as a short cocktail, garnished with a thin slice of chilli or a wedge of pink grapefruit.
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