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The Essence of Scotland: A Comprehensive Guide to Scottish Gin

Updated: Sep 16


Scottish G+T
Scottish G+T

Every October 5th, the world of spirits lifts its glass to a holiday that may be young, but is already leaving a lasting impression. International Scottish Gin Day is a moment to celebrate not just the liquid in our glasses, but the land, people, and stories that make Scottish gin such a remarkable force in today’s cocktail culture.





A Rich History of Scottish Gin


When you think of Scotland, whisky is usually the first spirit that comes to mind. Generations of distillers have built a reputation for smoke, peat, and oak-aged patience. Yet in recent years, gin has stepped boldly into the spotlight, claiming its own piece of Scotland’s distilling heritage. What makes Scottish gin so special is how intimately it ties itself to place. Distillers aren’t simply buying bags of juniper and coriander from abroad — they are walking the hillsides, foraging coastal botanicals, harvesting heather, rowan berries, sugar kelp, and herbs that thrive in the unique climate of the Highlands and islands. The result is gin that doesn’t just taste of juniper, but of Scotland itself.


Part of the reason gin has become so wildly popular in Scotland is that it offers distillers freedom that whisky cannot. Whisky demands patience, years of aging, and a long wait before the first sip is ready. Gin, on the other hand, can be distilled, bottled, and celebrated in a matter of weeks. For craft distillers eager to share their creativity, gin is a canvas that reflects their local environment and personal style. And while whisky tourism is a long-established tradition, gin distilleries have embraced the same spirit of hospitality. Travelers from all over the world now visit Scotland not just for single malts, but for distillery tours and gin tastings that tell the story of the place through botanicals.


International Scottish Gin Day itself is a relatively new holiday, born in 2019 thanks to Natalie and Martin Reid of The Gin Cooperative. Their vision was to create a platform where Scottish gin could be celebrated without being reduced to a sales pitch. Instead, the day shines a spotlight on the people who make the spirit, the places that inspire it, and the passion that drives the industry forward. It is an invitation to connect — for distillers, bartenders, and drinkers alike — over the shared appreciation of Scotland’s contribution to the global gin scene.



Harris Gin, a “social distillery” that employs almost 40 people on an island of less than 2,000, is one of many prime gin-supping spots in Scotland.
Harris Gin, a “social distillery” that employs almost 40 people on an island of less than 2,000, is one of many prime gin-supping spots in Scotland.

By the 19th century, Scotland had become a bustling hub for distilleries, producing a diverse range of gins that showcased the distinctive terroir of the region. Today, Scottish Gin continues to thrive with 90 gin distilleries and plans to build more! Here is a Scottish Gin Distillery Map


Facts You Didn't Know About Scottish Gin Apart


1. Scottish gin accounts for 70% of the UK's overall gin production.

It's true, we really like making gin in Scotland. In fact, alongside small-batch craft gins, three of the world's best-selling gins: Hendrick's, Gordon's, and Tanqueray, are all made here.


2. Gin is made from juniper berries, but juniper is not a berry!

It's actually a seed. Nearly all of the juniper used in gin-making is picked straight from the wild. During the plague years in the 14th century, doctors wore masks stuffed with juniper, and people even began eating and drinking juniper, with the hopes it would fend off infection and disease.


3. Edinburgh Gin loves their pot stills - they've named them 'Flora' & 'Caledonia'.

A small-batch distillery spreading the love of gin across the capital, Edinburgh Gin has a selection of delicious spirits on offer. And, they're not the only gin distillery to give their stills nicknames. The Bruichladdich (makers of The Botanist on Islay) have one called 'Ugly Betty'.


4. Speaking of The Botanist, they make gin using 22 island botanicals.

The Botanist - Islay's first and only dry gin - uses a selection of wild plants and herbs from the island to flavour the spirit, from apple mint and gorse flowers to Islay juniper and sweet chamomile.


5. Eden Mill's Golf Gin is influenced by materials used to make wooden golf clubs.

The Eden Mill Distillery has been located on the same site for over 200 years. The distillery, which also produces whisky and beer, has recently been inspired by its golf-loving home of St Andrews and makes a gin flavoured by hickory wood.


6. Pickering's Gin is produced on the former site of an old animal hospital.

Formerly the Small Animal Hospital of the Dick Vet School, the Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh is now a unique gin-making spot in the capital.


7. The House of Elrick makes its gin using fresh water from Loch Ness.

Makers of a beautifully crafted gin, the House of Elrick was built at the height of the Scottish Enlightenment in 1720. It was once visited by Bonnie Prince Charlie, who gifted the Jacobite rose to the estate, which now flourishes in the stunning walled garden.


8. Ingredients and Distillation Process

Scottish Gin is often crafted using locally sourced botanicals that are uncommon to other gins, such as heather and sea kelp.



Colorful flavor wheel with sections like Fresh Fruit, Floral, Herbaceous, Spice. Blue berries and green leaves on the top left.
Gin Flavor Profiles

Common Flavors

The typical flavor profiles of Scottish Gin include:


Juniper-Forward: Classic and robust, with a strong juniper presence.


Citrusy: Bright and zesty, often with notes of lemon or orange.


Herbal: Earthy and complex, with hints of herbs like rosemary or thyme.


Floral: Delicate and fragrant, often infused with flowers like lavender or chamomile.


Some of Scotland's Popular Scottish Gins and Their Flavor Profiles


Hendrick's Gin: Floral and cucumber notes.


The Botanist: Complex, layered — citrus, herbs, delicate florals. 22 local botanicals.


Caorunn: Apple, heather, rowan berry, with crisp juniper backbone.


Edinburgh Gin: Known for its wide range of flavored gins, including raspberry and elderflower.


Isle of Harris Gin: Fresh, maritime, with sugar kelp lending briny minerality.


Our Seasonal Favorite Gin Cocktail: Pepper Blossom

Pepper Blossom by Alexi Fisher
Pepper Blossom by Alexi Fisher

Ingredients:

1.5 oz. Gin

1 oz. St. Germain

2 oz. Fresh grapefruit juice

1/2 oz. Jalapeno + Honey syrup

Topped with prosecco


Directions:

Step 1: Begin by "quick chilling" a cocktail glass.

Step 2: In a shaker, combine all ingredients (except for prosecco) with ice. Shake for 5-8 seconds.

Step 3: Empty the cocktail glass and rim with a large grain sugar. Strain the concoction into a glass.

Step 4: Top with chilled ice and garnish with basil.







On October 5th, International Scottish Gin Day is not simply about pouring yourself a drink. It is about connecting with a spirit that captures Scotland’s landscape in liquid form, whether you’re tasting the salt of the sea, the perfume of the heather, or the pine of the forests. Raise your glass to the distillers who walk the hillsides and the coastlines in search of flavor, to the storytellers who share the passion behind every bottle, and to the spirit of Scotland itself.


Slàinte Mhath (Slanj-a-va)



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