Did you know that 70% of the UK’s gin is made in Scotland? Now that is something to raise a G & T to! The Gin Industry (or should we say GINdustry) is booming and we are delighted to be part of it.
We now stock over 50 craft gins in our shop in Largs and have been adding more to our online store everyday!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR RANGE OF CRAFT GINS
So with so many gins on the market to choose from, how can you possibly choose which one to try? The 2017 winners of the inaugural Scottish Gin Awards may give you some ideas.
Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year - Arbikie
The Arbroath-based farming family fought off seven other distilleries to win the biggest prize of the Scottish Gin Awards . They also collected the bronze medal position in the Cask Gin taste competition for ‘Cask Aged Kirsty’s Gin’.
Kirsty’s Gin is distilled on the Arbikie Highland Estate Distillery in Arbroath using carefully selected local botanicals chosen by their Master Distiller, Kirsty Black. The kelp, carline thistle & blueberry embody the elements of ocean, rock & land that surround the east coast, Angus farmlands. As fourth generation Scottish farmers they perfectly nurture the crops that they use to distil their gin. In fact they grow, distil & bottle on their single estate in a true farm to bottle operation.
For the perfect Kirsty’s G&T, garnish with 6 blueberries and a lemon twist.
Scottish Gin of the Year - Verdant
This new gin from Dundee was the surprise star of the Scottish Gin Awards. Verdant Dry Gin which created its first batch in May of this year fought off competition from 16 other contenders to win the gold medal in the London Dry category and went on to win the judges’ prize for the best gin in the competition which was sponsored by Geraldo’s!
Verdant Gin is distilled in small batches from the highest quality ingredients in their 500 litre pot still “Little Eddie”. It is aromatically juniper-led with fresh notes of citrus on the nose and palate with warm, earthy undertones of spice. These characteristics make it perfect served neat (on the rocks or not) or as a G&T with your favourite tonic and is perfect as a base to many cocktails. To those who know Dundee, the word Verdant is synonymous with its jute and weaving industry capturing the ‘spirit’ of this vibrant city. Give it a try!
Gin Liqueur of the Year
Edinburgh Gin won Gold for ‘Gin Liqueur of the Year’ for their ever popular Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur and Silver under the same category for their Plum and Vanilla. In addition to this, they collected 3 other awards for their Seaside, Valentine’s and Cannonball Gins.
Edinburgh Gin's Rhubarb & Ginger is a sweet, fruity liqueur balanced by a delicate warmth and spicy finish. A mainstay of kitchen gardens across Scotland and intensely flavoured, rhubarb is the ideal ingredient for a sweet gin liqueur. Freshly picked spring-crop rhubarb is spiked with Oriental ginger and infused with their classic Edinburgh Gin. The rhubarb and spice are left to steep for four weeks, allowing the complex flavours to marry together.
Bottled at 20% ABV, this liqueur’s sweetly-spiced notes is perfect served on its own over crushed ice, mix it with tonic or add it to prosecco for a special occasion.
Need more ginspiration?
We’ve named just a few of the 2017 Scottish Gin Award Winners above, but there are many more fabulous gins to choose. Pop into our store in Largs and we'd be happy to help you find the perfect gin for you or browse our range online.
Who will be the winners of The Scottish Gin Awards in 2018? We'll find out on 20th September 2018. Watch this space!
Read more about The Scottish Gin Awards, Geraldo's GinFest and Regatta GinFest during 2017.
