Argyll is rightly famed for its single malt whiskies, with whisky distilleries dotting the region’s coastline and islands. But whisky isn’t the only drink produced in Argyll; craft gin is the new spirit on the block and it’s proving quite a tonic. The region’s gin is full of Argyll spirit, with locally foraged botanicals and beautifully designed bottles. So whether you like your gin neat or served with a mixer, here are seven Argyll gins that you have to try. Slainte!
Islay
Bruichladdich’s The Botanist is the original Argyll gin. It’s made at the Bruichladdich whisky distillery near Port Charlotte on the island of Islay. Nine classic gin botanicals (juniper berries, angelica root, cassia bark, cinnamon bark, coriander seed, lemon peel, orange peel, liquorice root and orris root) are used along with 22 others that are found on the island. These are hand-picked by local people who search Islay’s hills, marshes and shorelines to find bog myrtle leaves, creeping thistle flowers, elderflower, gorse flowers, heather flowers, hawthorn flowers, lemon balm, meadowsweet, red clover flowers, tansy and more.
Colonsay
The tiny Hebridean island of Colonsay has inspired two gins. Colonsay Gin is a delicious tipple made by husband and wife team Finlay and Eileen Geekie, also known as Wild Thyme Spirits. The gin is hand-made in small batches of 160 bottles and takes inspiration from Celtic folklore and the beauty of the wild island. It’s a classic gin in many ways, juniper led, with depth brought by botanicals such as coriander and orange peel. Wild Thyme Spirits not only makes craft gin, but also runs a fabulous Gin Lover’s Retreat on Colonsay.
Wild Island Gin was created by the folks behind Colonsay Ales. Alongside the 10 base botanicals, six key hand-foraged island botanicals - lemon balm, wild water mint, meadowsweet, sea buckthorn, heather flowers and bog myrtle - provide a citrusy and slightly spicy profile.
Kintyre
Kintyre Gin is family affair, made by the Macalister Halls at Torrisdale Castle Estate in Kintyre. Beinn an Tuirc Distillery is based in a former piggery building located on the estate. Here, the copper still, lovingly named Big Don, is powered by a hydro-electric scheme and fed by spring water from the hill. The gin is made with 12 botanicals, which are all sustainably sourced. Ten of these are commonly used botanicals, with two extras - Icelandic moss and sheep sorrel – to give the spirit its unique taste. Both grow on the estate in abundance!
Jura
Lussa Gin is made by hand in small batches by three local women - Claire Fletcher, Georgina Kitching and Alicia MacInnes - in Ardlussa at the north end of the island of Jura. This all-woman gin team not only distills the spirit, the ladies themselves grow and gather the key botanicals, including lemon thyme, rose petals, bog myrtle, elderflower, Scots pine, honeysuckle, sea lettuce and water mint. Spring water comes from the Lussa Glen. The result is a full-bodied floral gin with a hint of native flora, reflecting the wild conditions of the island. Distillery tours are available by appointment only. Just call 01496 820323 to book a tour.
Inspired by the remote Hebridean island of Tiree, Tyree Gin packs a punch. The unique flavor is achieved through botanicals foraged from Tiree, including eyebright, ladies’ bedstraw, water mint and angelica. The flowers are collected from the island’s rich and fertile machair ground, while the kelp and sea belt are harvested from the wild Atlantic Ocean. Tyree was the original spelling for Tiree’s Post Office, established in Scarinish in 1802. Apparently the name was changed to Tiree in 1889 to avoid confusion with Tyrie in Aberdeenshire! Tyree Gin is not currently made on the island, although the plan is to move production to Tiree in the next few years.
The majestic white-tailed sea eagle, synonymous with the beautiful island of Mull, is the inspiration behind Whitetail Gin. This juniper-led gin uses botanicals native to Mull, including heather, winter savoury and pine needles from the Tiroran Estate and sea-kelp collected from the shores of Loch Scridain. The gin is then crafted in London and distilled using water freshly sourced from Tiroran’s private spring (said to have mythical healing powers!).
Where to try and buy Argyll’s gins
You can try and buy Argyll’s gins in shops and bars across Argyll, Scotland and further afield. There are some fabulous hotels and bars in Argyll that stock a wide range of small batch gins, including The Oystercatcher in Otter Ferry, Portavadie Loch Fyne, Loch Melfort Hotel and The Boathouse on Gigha.
And if you love gin, then don’t miss Gintyre Festival (20th to 22nd April) in Kintyre, where you can sample some of Argyll’s finest gins. The main event takes place on Saturday 21st April in the Town Hall with a party in the evening and fringe events taking place over the Gintyre weekend. There are plenty of other gin festivals across Scotland this year where you might just find an Argyll gin or two to try! The Scot Gin Festival 2018 takes place in Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews and Inverness and the Juniper Festival takes place in Edinburgh from 1st to 3rd June.