There’s no better way to celebrate International Scottish Gin Day than to actually drink some of the country’s outstanding gins. But if you’re not sure where to start, we’ve compiled a list (in no particular order) of nine of the best.
Eden Mill Love Gin
Released in 2015, the Love Gin is light blush pink in colour with sweet vanilla and floral notes when diluted. This expression is a mix of both traditional gin botanicals, including juniper berries, coriander, and angelica, along with more exotic botanicals, including rose petal, hibiscus, elderberry, goji berry, raspberry leaf, and rhubarb root.
Tanqueray No. Ten Gin
Tanqueray No. Ten Gin is named after the small copper pot-still (“Tiny Ten”) that is used to produce the spirit. Released in 2000, this Scottish gin uses a recipe which differs from the standard Tanqueray bottling. In addition to juniper, botanicals include coriander, chamomile flowers, white grapefruit, lime, and orange. Fun fact: The brand uses whole citrus fruits in its recipe.
Old Raj Dry Gin (55%)
Dating back to 1972, Old Raj Dry Gin comes in two versions – the first is referred to as ‘Blue Label’ and is bottled at 55% ABV, while its lower-ABV counterpart uses a red label. Both gin styles are made with nine botanicals: juniper berries, orange and lemon peel, coriander seed, angelica root, orris root, cassia bark and almond powder. Saffron is then infused with gin following distillation.
The Botanist Gin
After 38 years, Bowmore’s master distiller Jim McEwan, wanted to distil a gin that reflects his home of Islay, the island he loves. The Botanist is a gin comprised of 9 standard botanicals and an additional 22 that were hand-foraged from Islay itself–botanicals like apple mint, heather, red clover, and meadowsweet among many others..
Caorunn Gin
Caorunn Gin is named after the Gaelic word for “rowan berry,” a botanical used its production. Caorunn (Ka-roon) gin is made by vapour infusing the finest pure grain spirit with a combination of traditional gin botanicals, as well as those hand-foraged from the Scottish Highlands, including rowan berry, bog myrtle, heather, coul blush apple, and dandelion leaf.
Hendrick’s Gin (41.4%)
Distilled in small batches (500 litres) in two different stills, Hendrick’s is created with 11 different botanicals including elderflower, chamomile, and yarrow. It uses a Bennet still which produces a heavier spirit (botanicals are macerated) and a Carter-head still (botanicals are vapour-infused) which produces a lighter spirit. The two are then blended and infused with rose and cucumbers.
Makar Glasgow Gin
Makar Glasgow Gin is the first product released by the Glasgow Distillery Co. Named after the Gaelic word for “poet” or “bard”, this gin is made with eight botanicals: juniper, angelica root, liquorice, coriander seed, lemon peel, rosemary, black peppercorns and cassia bark. The gin is distilled in “Annie,” the name was given to their copper pot still, before being bottled at 43% ABV.
Edinburgh Classic Gin
This classic London Dry-style gin is distilled in Edinburgh at The Biscuit Factory Distillery in Leith. Fourteen botanicals are used in the production and include pine, heather and milk thistle which are sourced in Scotland. Other botanicals include lavender, mulberries, orange peel, lemongrass, cobnuts, and lime peel.
Isle Of Harris Gin
Made in the Outer Hebrides as a celebration of its island home, Isle of Harris is noted for its use of sugar kelp which is hand-harvested by local divers. As well as the Kelp, the gin has nine botanicals which are steeped in neutral grain spirits, including juniper, coriander, angelica root, bitter orange peel, orris root, cubeb, cassia bark, and liquorice.
