The Shore in Leith, Edinburgh
1. Scotland's love affair with gin started in Leith, Edinburgh
There is a long history with Leith’s port making it easy for the import and export of product needed for gin production, but today this area of Edinburgh boasts three distilleries – Lind and Lime Gin Distillery, Shore Distillery, and Port of Leith Distillery.
De Isle of Harris Distillery
2. 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.
Cocktails at Pickering's Gin
© @pickeringsgin
3. 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.
Isle of Islay
4. Speaking of The Botanist, they make gin using 22 island botanicals
The name gives it away.
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.
Dunnet Bay Distillery Tasting Room
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 been recently inspired by its golf-loving home of St Andrews and makes a gin flavoured by hickory wood.
Cocktail making
© @pickeringsgin
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. Pop next door to the Royal Dick bar for a refreshing Pickering's and tonic straight from the gin tap.
Uitzicht op Loch Ness vanaf Urquhart Castle
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.
