To celebrate International Scottish Gin Day on the 7th October, I’ve listed a few bottles that I’ve been enjoying recently. There are some newer releases and a few older Scottish gins, all worthy of a place at your home bar. When I find a gin that I really enjoy, I tend to return to it […]
Crossbill Gin was launched in 2013 and it was the first gin made with 100% Scottish botanicals. These botanicals, juniper and rosehip, are handpicked with care in the Highlands to ensure regeneration of the juniper bushes. Each year they explore different juniper clusters and therefore each batch will be slightly different. Recently, the Glasgow-based Crossbill […]
Ever wanted to make your own gin? Crossbill Distillery in Glasgow is running a gin school where you can learn more about gin in general while you distil your own gin recipe. The distillery is the first to make gin using only Scottish botanicals. Their gins are made using only two botanicals, juniper and rosehip, […]
Spiced gins are very popular, and no wonder as the spices work beautifully in many cocktails, including our favourite Negroni. Spiced gin is often created with the ancient spice routes in mind. Ships sailed through various countries on their way to the UK to meet the high demand for a wide array of spices from […]
Savoury and herbaceous is one of my favourite gin categories. I’m a starter-over-dessert kind of person, so I often prefer savoury flavours over sweet or floral (although there some exceptions, Silent Pool Gin for example). The botanicals don’t necessarily have to have a salty taste and they can include herbs, vegetables and fruits that aren’t […]
In 1468 the Orkney islands were pawned to the Scottish Crown by Christian I of Denmark as a gift for his daughter’s marriage to James III of Scotland. Until then, Orkney had been part of the Scandinavian kingdom. The Norsemen lived on the islands from the late 8th century, and to this day you can […]
Did you know that gin starts life as vodka? Vodka is the base spirit, but once you add juniper the spirit begins its journey to gin. You can add further botanicals to create different types of gin, but juniper must remain the ever present, key botanical. Over the recent years gin market has become crowded, […]
Did you know that 70% of the gin made in the UK is actually made in Scotland? Scotland’s gin-producing areas can be separated into six different regions, and I thought I’d take a look to see if it is possible to identify what distinguishes each one. Between them they boast over 70 distilleries and hundreds […]
Pink gins have become ever so popular, and they aren’t just for the summer any more, but for all-year-round enjoyment. They are made with a variety of ingredients, from sweeter berries to juicy citrus to delicate florals. Some brands have based their recipe on the traditional pink gin, which was created with angostura bitters. I […]