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Image by The Scotch Whisky Association
During the turn of the millennium, the whisky and gin industries were unaware of the changes that would occur. Whisky became more popular with the introduction of collectable releases, while Sipsmith opened the doors for small gin distilleries worldwide.
Whisky distilleries are now places where gin and whisky meet. Due to the increase in new distilleries, it has become almost certain that many of them will generate revenue in their early years by distilling and selling gin or vodka. This is because the base spirit produced can be used to make gin. However, most new distilleries have installed a dedicated still for gin distillation, which sometimes involves installing a column still.
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Gin has seen a surge in popularity in the last decade, making it a profitable choice for new distilleries. However, with so many options available, it can be difficult to stand out in the crowded market. On the other hand, whisky requires a long-term investment, with at least three years of cask maturing required to be classified as such. While distilleries do make money by selling casks that will mature into whisky, they also need a constant flow of income. This is where gin comes in.
As the gin market offers lucrative opportunities, many established distilleries have also started producing gin, although this is less common. This article will only focus on Scottish whisky distilleries that produce gin, not including gin distilleries that have expanded into whisky production. We have identified 20 Scottish whisky distilleries currently producing gin out of the 137 distilleries, including grain distilleries currently operating in Scotland. This means that 6.9% of Scottish distilleries produce gin for sale.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
We would like to bring to your attention that the trend of gin start-ups has spread all over the world, from Japan to Finland. However, in this article, we will not be covering them.
Please take note that we have highlighted the botanicals that are being used. If there are no variants listed, it means that only one expression is available.
Arbikie Gin - Arbikie Distillery, Highland
Distillery Established: 2014
Gin Launched: 2015
Interesting Botanicals: Kelp, Carline Thistle, Blaeberries
Varieties: Kirsty's Gin, AK's Gin, Arbroath Gin, Carnoustie Gin, Nadar Gin
Info: The core expression is named after Arbikie's Master Distiller Kirsty
Black.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Barra Atlantic Gin - Barra Distillery, Isle of Barra
Distillery Established: Originally in 2008, but still under construction
Gin Launched: 2017
Interesting Botanicals: Carrageen Seaweed
Varieties: Atlantic Gin, Rhubarb & Heather Gin Liqueur
Info: Uses 17 different botanicals.
Image by The Scottish Gin Society
The Botanist - Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay
Distillery Established: 1881
Gin Launched: 2010
Interesting Botanicals: Mugwort, Meadowsweet, Lady's Bedstraw, Apple Mint
Info: Made in a Lomond still called 'Ugly Betty'. Using 31 botanicals, of
of which 22 are native to the Isle of Islay.
Image by FirstClasse
Brewdog Lone Wolf Gin - Brewdog Distillery, Highlands
Distillery Established: 2016 (as LoneWolf Distillery, changed in 2019)
Gin Launched: 2017
Interesting Botanicals: Tuscany Juniper, Scots Pine
Varieties: Lone Wolf Gin - Original, Peach & Passionfruit, Cactus & Lime,
Spiced Orange, Gun Powder, Cloudy Lemon + Zealot's Heart Gin
Info: The Brewdog distillery can make all kinds of spirits from gin and
rum to grain and single malt whiskies.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Byron's Gin - Speyside Distillery, Speyside
Distillery Established: 1976
Gin Launched: 2017
Interesting Botanicals: Lady's Bedstraw, Rowan, Wild Thyme, Juniper, Blaeberry
Varieties: Bird Cherry, Melancholy Thistle
Info: Described with 'gin experience for the more sophisticated palate'.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Caorunn Gin - Balmenach Distillery, Speyside
Distillery Established: 1824
Gin Launched: 2009
Interesting Botanicals: Rowan Berry, Heather, Coul Blush Apple, Dandelion, Bog Myrtle
Varieties: Caorunn - Gin, Raspberry, Highland Strength, Gin Master's Cut
Info: A Copper Berry Chamber that was invented in the US in the 1920s,
is used to extract flavours from the botanicals. The chamber is
usually used to extract essential oils.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Dornoch Organic Mediterranean Gin - Dornoch Distillery
Distillery Established: 2016
Gin Launched: 2017
Interesting Botanicals: Meadowsweet, Elderflower, Black Peppercorn, Freeze-dried
Raspberry
Varieties: Thompson Bros Gin, Dornoch Organic Mediterranean Gin
Info: The distillery is located in an old 19th-century fire station.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Eden Mill Gin - Eden Mill Distillery, Lowlands
Distillery Established: 2014
Gin Launched: 2014
Interesting Botanicals: Sea Buckhorn Berries, Lemon Balm, Citrus Peel
Varieties: Eden Mill - Original, Heritage Range, Love Gin Liqueurs Range,
Premium Range, Distiller's Choice Collection, Limited Releases
Ramsay's Gin
Info: The newest gin made by Eden Mill is dedicated to the chef Gordon
Ramsay picked the botanicals going into the recipe. We guess
he's not promoting Gordon's Gin anymore (and yes, he used to).
Image by Scotsman Food And Drink/ Eden Mill
GoodWill Gin - GlenWyvis Distillery, Highlands
Distillery Established: 2015 (built in 2017)
Gin Launched: 2018
Botanicals: Hawthorn Berries + 8 Classic Gin Botanicals
Info: In the past, they have produced 4 different types of gins, but the
The Scottish Gin variety is the only one currently available.
Image by World Brand Design Society
Gordon's, Tanqueray & Jinzu Gin - Cameronbridge Distillery, Lowlands
Distillery Established: 1824
Gin Launched: Jinzu 2014
Botanicals: Sake, Yuzu
Info: Many might not know that the Cameronbridge distillery, owned by
Diageo also makes gins and vodka alongside their grain whisky.
The sake for the Jinzu Gin is actually made in Leven Distillery in
Fife, also owned by Diageo and located in their Leven bottling plant
since 2008.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Harris Gin - Harris Distillery, Isle of Harris
Distillery Established: 2015
Gin Launched: 2015
Interesting Botanicals: Sugar Kelp, Javan Pepper
Info: Distilled in a copper still named "The Dottach". The gin is hard to
find due to high demand and small production size, but you can
order a monthly subscription to the gin from the distillery website.
Image by Imbibe Magazine
Height of Arrows Gin - Holyrood, Lowlands
Distillery Established: 2019
Gin Launched: 2021
Botanicals: Only 3: Juniper, Beeswax, Isle of Skye Sea Salt
Info: Named after a mountain Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, near the
distillery. In Gaelic, the mountain is called Àrd-Na-Said, which
literally means the Height of Arrows.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Hendrick's Gin - Girvan Distillery
Distillery Established: 1963
Gin Launched: 1999
Interesting Botanicals: Roses, Cucumber, Caraway Seeds, Elderflower, Yarrow Berries
Varieties: Hendrick's - Original, Lunar, Orbium, Amazonia, Midsummer
Solstice, Neptunia
Info: The first special edition Orbium (2017) took 18 years to release
after the introduction of Hendrick's Original in 1999.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Isle of Raasay Gin - Raasay Distillery, Isle of Raasay
Distillery Established: 2014 (first distillation 2017)
Gin Launched: 2019
Interesting Botanicals: Raasay Juniper, Rhubarb Root, Cubeb Pepper
Info: The botanicals are mixed with triple-distilled new make spirit from
the distillery which has an underlying blackcurrant note.
Image by Raasay Distillery
Makar Gin - Glasgow Distillery, Lowlands
Distillery Established: 2014
Gin Launched: 2014
Interesting Botanicals: Black Pepper, Fresh Lemon, Fresh Rosemary
Varieties: Makar Gin - Original, Oak Aged, Mulberry Aged, Cherry, Old Tom
Info: Makar is a Scottish word for a poet or a bard.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Nc'Nean Botanical Spirit - Nc'Nean Distillery, Highlands
Distillery Established: 2013
Launched: 2018
Botanicals: Juniper, Coriander, Angelica, Liquorice, Chamomile, Grapefruit,
Bog myrtle, Thyme, Sorrel, Heather
Info: Not categorised as gin, but pretty damn close. Described as
organic and 'beyond gin' with 40% ABV.
Image by Notonthehighstreet.com
Sanday Gin - Kimbland Distillery, Orkney
Distillery Established: 2017
Gin Launched: 2021
Interesting Botanicals: Not Known
Info: There isn't much information about this particular gin.
Kimbland distillery website says it's coming soon.
Image by Kimbland Distillery
Strathearn Scottish Gin - Strathearn Distillery, Highlands
Distillery Established: 2013
Gin Launched: 2013
Interesting Botanicals: Calamus root, Grains of Paradise, Rose Petals, Honeyberry
Varieties: 11 different expressions
Info: One of Scotland's smallest distilleries that is sometimes listed more as a gin distillery than whisky, but we decided to include it
since we guess their heart was first set to produce whisky, but gin
got out of hand.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
Tobermory Gin - Tobermory Distillery, Isle of Mull
Distillery Established: 1768
Gin Launched: 2019
Interesting Botanicals: Heather, Elderflower, Tea, Sweet Orange Peel
Varieties: Tobermory - Hebridean Gin, Mountain Gin, Hebridean Coast Gin
Info: The distillery underwent major refurbishments in 2019, resulting in
the installation of a gin still.
Image by The Whisky Ardvark
William Kerr's Gin - Borders Distillery, Lowland
Distillery Established: 2018
Gin Launched: 2018
Interesting Botanicals: Almond, Heracleum Sphondylium (hogweed)
Info: Uses Carter head Still. William Kerr was a botanist from Hawick living in the late 1700s.
Image by The Borders Distillery
Have we forgotten someone? Let us know in the comments so we can update our article.
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