I’m really into Dundee Marmalade Gin. It’s made by a In 2013, Mr Pickering was handed a scrap SCOTTISH CRAFT GINS In the last 2 years gin has just of brown paper detailing a nine botanical about overtaken whisky in the local guy, one of our regulars, UP-AND-COMING global share of craft spirit gin recipe, jotted down 70 years ago by and is doing really well. a distiller in Mount Mary, Bombay in July Marmalade is a big thing for 1947. Bombay recipes, like Pickering’s Lussa Gin Dundee too and I really love how 1947 Original Recipe Gin, were designed to (Isle of Jura) Wm Grant 2016 Market Report it tastes with tonic and a big mask the taste of the bitter quinine-heavy wedge of orange. anti-malarial tonic ration. The result is a Royal Yacht flavour profile spicier and more intense Britannia Gin Andrew McMahon - Co-owner than traditional London Dry (East Lothian) Gin, with a lingering cinnamon Most of our top-selling gins are Scottish. The West House - Dundee Loch Ness Gin sweetness. Pickering’s smooth (Inverness) Hendricks and The Botanist sell very well, spirit allows the delicate spice of GIN MARKET £578M as does Isle of Harris which sells out almost fennel, coriander, cardamom, Badvo Gin immediately when we can get hold of it! I love Distillers cloves, and anise to balance (Pitlochry share of 90% with citrus and juniper. Stirling Gin, it’s very smooth, mellow and Kirkjuvagr Gin market Dave Quinnell of Pickering’s different as it’s made with foraged nettles (Orkney) said,“Having won Best British and basil – beautiful with quality tonic and Gin in 2016, Pickering’s 1947 Esker Gin pink grapefruit peel. is testament that some things (Royal Deeside) MAINSTREAM GIN £476M 10% just don’t go out of fashion.” Alastair Gilroy - General Manager Forth Bridge Gin Alston Bar & Beef- Glasgow (South Queensferry) McQueen Gin Small/Craft Big (Callander) Despite its popularity “2017 could be the year Distiller Distiller PREMIUM GIN £101M Teasmith Gin Gin is still only the of wood-aged gin,” says (Aberdeenshire) 4th largest spirits Liam Hughes, co-founder of The category with 9.9% Glasgow Distillery Company, of value sales, up which produces Makar Oak from 8.7% Aged Gin and Makar Mulberry. In Spring, sustainable Both are matured in virgin distillery Beinn an casks for around 10 weeks. Tuirc in Kintyre will EDINBURGH GIN became part of Ian “People are surprised Macleod Distillers in September 2016, launch Kintyre Gin, adding to their growing portfolio of how much the wood SCOTLAND is home which they claim premium, Scottish spirits brands. changes the colour to what claims to will be Scotland’s The company has been expanding its Gin and taste of the gin – Gin gin-making capacity and now has two be the world’s first first ‘eco’ gin, social enterprise gin. there’s no colourings distilleries in Edinburgh; the Rutland or additives. A lot of produced Place distillery and a new Edinburgh Gin Profits from Ginerosity, Facts Facts distillery at The Biscuit Factory in Leith. people are getting using a still created by Pickering’s excited about the In 2016 Edinburgh Gin released a new powered gin liqueur ‘Plum & Vanilla’ building on Gin founders Marcus wood-aged gins that Pickering and Matt by hydro- the popularity of its Raspberry, are coming out – Elderflower and Rhubarb & Ginger Gammell, go to projects watch this space.” electricity. liqueurs. As well as the classic supporting disadvantaged Edinburgh Gin, the core range young people. also features the navy strength Produced by Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, Cadenhead’s, Old Raj has Cannonball Gin and Seaside a distinctive pale yellow colour thanks to one of its key ingredients – saffron. Scotland’s first tea-infused gin was launched in January Edinburgh Gin. We hear there’s Strands of the rare and expensive spice are carefully weighed out and in Aberdeenshire. Teasmith Gin is made from black loose plenty of exciting new projects in measured by Cadenhead’s chairman Hedley G. Wright, and are then added leaf Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka, which is distilled then the pipeline for 2017 so keep an to a number of other botanicals like juniper, almond and orris root to give Old blended with other botanicals for a sweet minty flavour. eye out for new releases. Raj a distinct citrussy flavour. Old Raj is bottled a 46% ABV and a has a Navy Strength 55% ABV version. The stronger is the most popular, accounting for 70% sales. Flavoured tonics are a growing trend to mix up VALUE SHARE 2016: This year The Glasgow Distillery Company will complete its Makar gin collection with the launch the classic G&T. Two-thirds of the UK’s gin is produced of Makar Navy Strength, bottled at 57% ABV. Co- Some examples in Scotland. There are now over 30 founder, Liam Hughes, said, “It’ll be extra strength 10 JUNE are Fentimans so it will taste slightly different as it’s that much Herbal Tonic, 82.4% independent gin producers in Scotland. stronger but it will have the same botanicals and Mainstream gin smooth taste as Makar.” WORLD GIN Fevertree “Elaborate and eye-catching gin serves are becoming more popular”, says Launched in 2014, Makar is smooth juniper-led Mediterranean The Jolly Botanist’s Tony Pert, “A lot of people see the serves and buy the gin premium gin entwined with seven other botanicals. Tonic Water and because of the serve. We use crystal gasses and go big on the garnishes. The Makar portfolio also includes Makar Old Tom, DAY Thomas Henry 17.6 % a sweeter version made with orange peel, almonds Premium gin Rock Rose is served with toasted rosemary. As soon as customers see the Elderflower barman burning the rosemary behind the bar – the smoke and smell and and honey, and two special editions, Makar Oak spectacle really intrigues them.” Aged Gin and Makar Mulberry. Tonic water. 12 DRAM MARCH 2017 .