Jason Caddy delves into the rum category in Scotland to see what’s hot brand and trends-wise and ponders whether it’s ever going to eclipse its old nemesis gin.
Scotland and rum production go way back before the current sonic rum boom that’s almost deafening thanks to brand innovation and customers getting more of a taste for it. Sailors introduced it to the UK in the 17th century and it quickly went viral, then a sugar revolution eclipsed tobacco and up popped refineries in Glasgow, several housing rum distilleries.
But fast-forward a few centuries and is rum in Scotland destined to be forever the bridesmaid to the bride that is gin?
Said Fraser McIlwraith, Director at HOSPO Talent, Dark Art Drinks & Glasgow Cocktail Collective, “Rum has the potential to be as big. I think that one of the reasons that gin did so well is that male and female customers were happy with flavour profiles. Gin and tonic is pretty universal.
“Rum was seen as a masculine drink, but we have seen a change in this perception over the last five years, it’s got more flavoursome. Some great Scottish rums are ripping up the rule book by adding ingredients not traditionally associated with the spirit and this is widening its reach.”
How are sales of rum doing in the bars of some of his clients?
“In the last three months cocktail sales in Scotland’s bars have gone through the roof. My clients can’t believe how many of their customers are ordering cocktails and for efficiency and to keep up with demand, instead of say 20 cocktails on a list, a bar may have only six at the moment.
“Strawberry Daiquiris and Mojitos are two of the biggest hitters. Customers have missed good cocktails and because it’s a limited cocktail list, they are driven to the easy classics.”
Market Data Forecast says that the global rum market is worth $15 billion in 2021 and is set to grow to $21.5 billion by 2026. Statista predicts that in the UK, the rum category as a whole will see volume reach 26.9ML by 2025 with volume growth of 15.8% by 2022.
The number of rum brands in the UK has also gone from 50 in 2009 to over 200 in 2021.
Which rum brands are doing well across the bar across Scotland?
Michael Woods is the owner of St Luke’s and The Winged Ox and The Amsterdam in Glasgow has seen rum sales outstrip gin sales lately across his two venues.
He said, “Bacardi White, Bacardi Gold, and Sailor Jerry are our biggest sellers across both venues and rum sales have actually been slightly better than gin sales lately, despite the hot weather and customers associating gin and tonic with summertime drinking and dark rums with winter generally.”
Meanwhile, over in Edinburgh, it’s homegrown rums that are pretty much unstoppable at the moment – with a mixer and as part of a cocktail.
Said Scott Kirk, manager at Edinburgh’s Nauticus, “Our top-selling rums are all from Scotland. Sweetdram Smoked Spiced rum is Edinburgh-made and our biggest seller. SeaWolf is second. Then it’s J. Gow Rum.
“We’ve also got a cocktail on the menu called Loose Canon that flies out the door and is popular with all ages and both sexes. It’s made of Sweetddram, lime cordial, Bon Accord ginger beer, and Angostura bitters. “
Stuart McPhee owns Aberdeen’s Siberia Bar & Hotel where it’s arguably chillier and where rum is yet to completely shake off its seasonal warming shackles that may stand in the way of it being a summer drink.
He said, “We do a decent volume of our house-pour, Bacardi Spiced. We also do a ludicrous amount of frozen daiquiris using Bacardi Carta Blanca so it’s nothing overly adventurous.
“I don’t sell as much dark month as used to which has more to do with changing demographics towards younger clientele whereas this is traditionally an older person’s drink plus rum is still seasonal – it’s got an ingrained warmth to it.
“Vodka has always been a year-round choice whereas gin was pigeonholed as a spring/summer drink but it’s broken out of that now and so might rum break beyond being a go-to on dark winter nights.
“I’m always being encouraged by reps to move into flavoured rums and I guess this will develop as we expand cocktails.”
Moving further north again, Cru Holdings’ MD Scott Murray, owner of seven Inverness bars, said, “Customers are expanding their repertoires and understanding that there’s a difference between brands and that a rum is not just rum. There’s a drive toward quality and more Cuban rums too.
“Our biggest sellers are Brugal Blanco rum because of all the amount of daiquiris we sell, and Old J Tiki Fire rum because of its strength.”
In the beginning, there was Dark Matter and its Banchory distillery in 2015. This was the first rum to come from Scotland and now it’s in good company.
J. Gow Rum takes its name from the infamous Orkney pirate John Gow. His short, violent career began in Amsterdam in the Netherlands and ended in Orkney. The distillery sits metres away from the sea, on Lamb Holm, a tiny Orkney island, just 0.15 square miles across.
Head Distiller Collin creates a range of rum styles on what may well be one of the smallest rum-producing islands in the world. J. Gow Rum focus on cask-ageing and unique fermentation techniques to produce a range of rums that are full-bodied and decadent. Their range currently consists of Spiced Rum, Fading Light – a chestnut cask-aged rum and their newest release, Revenge – an ex-Bourbon and Virgin Oak cask-aged three-year-old rum.
William Grant & Sons’ Discarded Spirits arm includes Banana Peel Rum. This one embraces sustainability by creating cocktail recipes with ingredients that have been repurposed and is part of the green spirits revolution. It’s a cask-aged rum with the extract of banana peel. Discarded Spirits is also sponsoring the Cocktail Bar/Initiative of the Year at this year’s Scottish Bar & Pub Awards.
Kopparberg, sponsor of Best New Bar and Best and Most Improved Outdoor Area at the awards, recently expanded its spiced rum range with the launch of Dark Fruit Spiced Rum.
The new Dark Fruit Spiced Rum is the second rum from Kopparberg, following the release of Cherry Spiced Rum in June 2020.
Rob Salvesen, head of marketing at Kopparberg, said, “Following the success of our Cherry Spiced Rum launch earlier this year, our new Dark Fruit variant allows existing and new Kopparberg Rum fans to discover a new way to enjoy the bold fruit flavours the brand is famous for.”
Elsewhere on the wider brand front, Pernod Ricard expanded its Havana Club range in the UK this year when it introduced Havana Club Cuban Spiced and hopes that the new product will also attract millennials and ‘Gen Z’ drinkers into the rum category.
It supported the launch with on-trade activity which has included bar takeovers in Glasgow and Edinburgh – as well as consumer-facing social media activity.
Said Ian Peart, commercial director at Pernod Ricard UK, “The launch is well-positioned to capitalise on the growth opportunity in spiced rum, and we will be focusing on educating and inspiring UK bartenders on the liquid’s versatility to establish menu visibility across the on-trade.”
The final mention should go to some of the newest Scottish rums to have entered the market in the last year or so.
Freddy Drucquer, Dougie Jeffries and Chris Dowdall united in their enthusiasm for rum to create Brass Neck Rum, based in Glasgow and develop a recipe for a spiced rum that combines Scottish botanicals like nettle and milk thistle with tonka bean and orange peel. The label features an urban fox, elements of the Glasgow skyline and the Scottish countryside.
Thurso’s North Point Distillery was founded in 2020. It produces small-batch, sustainable Scottish spirits that boast Caribbean-style rum, aged using Scotch Whisky maturation techniques.
Askival Botanical Rum based on the Isle of Rùm. Establishing Eos Distillers Ltd a year ago, Fergus, Josh Kerr and Ali Gray have teamed up with Scottish chef Craig Grozier to bring their product to the market in November 2020. They are importing five-year-old rum from the Caribbean to make the botanical product initially while the business grows to finance its own distillery where it can produce the product from scratch.
Edinburgh’s Harpalion Spirits launched a new rum brand, ‘Cabal’ in May this year, and more than half of the first batch of its first expression No.1513 sold during the pre-order phase.
Livingston-based Matugga Distillers owned and operated by husband-and-wife duo, Paul and Jacine Rutasikwa has unveiled Liv Rum that is ‘inspired by the nation’s love for craft spirits and locally made produce, is handcrafted from start to finish using natural and seasonal ingredients.’
The range includes two white rums and a black spiced rum infused with Scottish heather. The artisan collection also includes. Raspberry and Hibiscus Rum Liqueur, made using seasonal hand-picked raspberries and Honey and Lavender Rum Liqueur created using Scottish honey and locally sourced lavender.
Master of Malt, the multi-award-winning eCommerce platform, has been gearing up to support the hospitality industry as the final stages of lockdown are lifted through its wholesale arm, Master of Malt Trade.
Founded in 2010, Master of Malt Trade is a one-stop-shop for incredible drinks, offering competitive prices on over 10,000 products. While its portfolio of course includes top-notch spirits such as whisky, gin, and rum, you’ll also find a diverse range of mixers, beers, syrups, canned cocktails, wine, Champagne, and more.
Following its re-launch in January 2021, the retailer has been expanding its team and establishing its social media presence with its Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, ensuring it’s fully equipped to support the reopening of the on- and off-trade. It also recently extended the cut-off for next day delivery to 6pm.
It is prioritising five key pillars, with simplicity and flexibility is at its core:
Fast service
Next-day delivery as standard for all UK mainland orders placed before 18:00
Free delivery
UK mainland customers will always benefit from free delivery on orders over £200+VAT
No minimum order
From one bottle to hundreds, no order is too small
Expert advice
Via either a serviced or managed account, businesses of all sizes can access trend insights and advice from the expert WSET-trained in-house team, on hand between 8:00 and 18:30.
Competitive prices
Customers will be able to access Trade pricing across Master of Malt’s range of 10,000 spirits, mixers, beers and wines
Customers also get access to Master of Malt Trade-exclusive products, such as the Base Spirits range from Atom Labs, the agile innovation arm of Atom Group. The range of high-quality affordable spirits, aimed at providing a base for cocktails, is now available in environmentally friendly 10-litre bag-in-boxes, solely through Master of Malt Trade.
Account-holders include, but are not limited to, independent retailers and convenience stores, bars, restaurants, and events companies – of course, other businesses with drinks sourcing requirements are more than welcome to create an account. Sound like you? Sign up for an account today!
This month the world celebrates World Gin Day. Susan Young gives us an insight into what is happening in the category and what you should be considering when stocking up.
Gin has very much been one of the most fashionable spirits over the last few years – as you all know. But the issue for the hospitality industry now is what gins should you stock, when right now, every penny on the back bar counts. You want gins that are going to fly off the shelves without staff having to take time to explain who and what it is.
I can hardly believe I am writing that because I have long been an advocate of persuading bar staff to learn all they can to get customers to trade up or to experience new flavours. However, these are not normal days, and with the situation regarding recruitment, staff simply do not have the time right now to spend valuable serving time talking and not serving. Of course, if they do have time, revert to normal practices.
So how do you choose what to stock when there are so many on the market – and certainly the number is evidenced by the fact that the most recent HMRC figures show that a record number of distilleries were registered in 2020 despite the pandemic in fact over the last four years the number of distilleries has doubled and in England, they have tripled – with the gin boom making all the difference – and now there are more distilleries in England than in Scotland for the first time! In the UK there are now more than 560 with 214 being in Scotland.
But with hospitality having taken the brunt of the restrictions spending on gin has dropped from £2.6bn to £2.2bn, for the twelve months to October 2020, according to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).
As I am more of a writer than an accountant the following figures are approximate but this would suggest that the value of gin sales in Scotland in hospitality is in the region of £40m. (£400m divided by 10%).
The interest in gin however has not dropped with supermarkets and online sales growing 22% over lockdown. The value of sales broke the billion-pound mark for the first time, with 75 million bottles sold, ten million more than last year.
So what were they buying? Flavoured gin grew 31% – 27 million bottles were sold while traditional, juniper-tasting gins, saw a 10% increase to 48 million bottles. And a recent CGA survey revealed that gin was the most popular spirit being bought online, just behind wine and beer.
So how do you maximise your gin sales and make sure that you don’t have brands that are languishing on the back bar?
This might seem obvious but consumers need to be aware of the brands. Therefore it is important to have a look at how brands are marketing themselves and whether this fits with your own customer profile.
Premium and super-premium gins and ultra-premium have been very popular of late. Last year after lockdown many consumers traded up and this trend looks set to continue. Between now and 2023, premium, super-premium and ultra-premium gin sales are set to grow 10.4%, 13.9% and 17.6% respectively.
One of the reasons that consumers interest has been piqued, and continues to be, is the influence that small distillers have had on the market. Their importance cannot be underestimated – the craft gin movement has embraced the consumer move towards provenance and authenticity and has transformed the gin offering in this country. However, despite their popularity, craft is not likely to see the same volume of sales as mass-market gins. The IWSR says, “The idea that craft gin will ever dominate global market share is a complete fallacy.”
Another reason is that the gin market has put the vodka sector to shame – it took for granted its popularity as a mixing spirit whereas gin distillers have been more innovative. Whether it’s new liquids, new packaging or targetting new consumers – which brings us to your customer.
Research shows that twice as many women as men prefer gin. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that pink gin has done so well. (I’m not suggesting that we are stereotyping women here!) But while dismissed by gin connoisseurs, to begin with, pink’s success has been phenomenal. Within two years of its launch, Diageo’s Gordon’s Pink Gin broke a million cases and knocked its parent brand off top spot.
Since then many other companies including Edinburgh Gin, have produced their own pink gins and it is now a staple in most bars with Gin Spritz which sees pink gin topped up with Prosecco a familiar sight. The research from the University of Derby also showed that 47% of women said they would be more likely to try an unfamiliar brand of gin in a bar or restaurant.
Age also plays a role – 18-24-year-olds prefer flavoured gins, while over 40’s prefer traditional gin, and the 46-65 years olds are more inclined to drink it every day! Interestingly only 20% of those researched remained loyal which is why brands need to keep innovating. It is also why even if you do reduce the number of gins you hold it is best to expand your range of craft and lesser-known gins and keep the brands that are actively marketing to consumers. It is also worth keeping your mixers topical too – and there is certainly a much larger opportunity to sell up to your customer by offering a brand with a premium focus.
There are many gins available so for your information I have focussed on a few that are represented in this month’s DRAM.
Edinburgh Gin, Roku, Red Door, Tobermory and Wild Island Glaswegin and newcomer Stranger & Sons
Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin has certainly been one of the most prolific marketers over the last few years. It was also one of the first gin companies to make its mark with former owner Alex Nicol, creating the brand in 2010. He showed true vision and has been credited with the Scottish ‘gin renaissance’ and Ian Macleod, who distributed the brand, bought it in 2016 – great timing. They have been able to maximise the opportunities and continue the legacy of a distillery that is known for creating innovative, award-winning gins.
Their advertising looks good and importantly the liquid also tastes good. The company has also diversified into flavours and in fact, was one of the first to do so. From Raspberry to Rhubarb and Ginger, Lemon and Jasmine, Seaside… and one of the most recent Gooseberry and Elderflower. But it’s not only that they come up with effective and quirky marketing ideas too. During lockdown, as well as tastings, they did Digital Movie Nights and last year they linked up with Mimi’s bakery to do afternoon teas, and they have even invented a Fortune Telling gin ball. During the summer months, they not only have press and digital advertising but have also invested in a TV ad. Last year it’s Filled with Wonderful’ ad featured the feel-good sound of The Night by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, and took viewers on an Edinburgh Gin journey through its home city and beyond.
This year it has launched, in collaboration with Edinburgh Castle a gin from the iconic landmark and its Edinburgh shop has also just opened.
Edinburgh Gin’s packaging is modern and fresh and the bottle is instantly recognisable – all very helpful when a customer is trying to buy, although at the moment they can’t stand at the bar, and peruse the bottles – they have to do this from afar which is another reason to have fewer bottles on the back bar so that customers can see what is on offer.
Red Door had a good start to the year when it won a prestigious Gold Medal in the London Dry Gin category at this year’s Gin Masters, but you wouldn’t expect anything less from owners Gordon & Macphail who have been long recognised as one of Scotland’s foremost whisky companies and distillers.
Red Door Gin is made at Benromach distillery and is a small-batch, handcrafted London Dry style gin. The botanical selection was inspired by Scotland’s mountains, forests and coastal fringes, featuring the likes of bitter orange, sea buckthorn, heather and rowanberries among juniper.
Lizzie Haw, Red Door Gin’s flavour expert, said, “We’re immensely proud of our handcrafted Highland gin and are thrilled that it’s been recognised in this prestigious competition. Every batch of Red Door Gin is handmade by our team in “Peggy” – our small copper pot still – and we believe that the care, expertise and dedication distilled in every drop makes our gin truly unique. Red Door Gin has truly earned its place as a favourite in drinks cabinets across the country, and a go-to ingredient in cocktails or a classic G&T.”
But not content with that, the distillers of Red Door Gin have come up with Limited-edition Seasonal Flavours and its seasonal summer edition, is out now. Bottled at 45%, Red Door Gin with Summer Botanicals is also perfect as the base for a refreshing gin spritz.
Tobermory Gin is one of the latest gins to enter the market from the lovely Island of Mull it too comes from a distinguished distiller – Distell who are also behind the likes of Bunnahabhain, Deanston and of course Tobermory Malt whisky. Tobermory Gin launched two years ago and within a year it won Best Scottish Classic Gin at the World Gin Awards.
Distilled on the island with a rich palate of hand-selected botanicals including juniper, tea, heather, elderflower, sweet orange peel.
The brand owners have followed the colourful tradition of Tobermory’s main street, which is famous throughout the world, and introduced the colourful palate to the packaging and also marketing materials. Tobermory Gin started life as a blank canvas with its base spirit distilled over and over until it was just that. Clean, fresh and ready to take on a colourful array of flavour and then its botanicals were added. The Tobermory Colour Gin booklet which launched at the same time contained 10 hand-drawn illustrations by artist Lydia Bourhill that were inspired by the distillery’s home, the Hebridean island of Mull – from its famous multicoloured harbour and the dramatic natural landscape to the history of the island’s 220-year-old distillery.
While the popularity of adult colouring books was already on the rise, the UK lockdown triggered by the coronavirus pandemic has caused a surge in people taking up arts and crafts hobbies to keep them occupied and entertained at home and the colouring book has been very popular.
Roku was created to bring together the legacy of both Beam and Suntory when the two companies came together in 2014.
Roku used six botanicals. Sakura flower and Sakura leaf, Sencha Tea, Gyokura Tea, Sansho Pepper, and Yuzu. Not only were they chosen to best represent Japan but they also represent each of the four seasons – spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
In Japan, the word Shun refers to peak seasonality and when ingredients are at their very best. Not only are each Roku’s botanicals a representation of each season but the Sakura flower is only at peak seasonality on 1 day and it is on this day that it is harvested. A real harmonisation of the essence of time and flavour.
The brand is enshrined in nature and would appeal to climate lovers too. Roku loves water and it cares about water. Imagine that – a gin where even the water carries all the essence of the brand. Roku has made the water a huge part of the brand story.
If you go to the Suntory Youtube channel you will see a video called “The Blessing of Water” and in the description, it says this, “Water is one of nature’s greatest blessings. Without it, our business would not be possible”
In it, it describes the climate challenges with forests and you meet the sustainability researchers and scientists within the company who are working to improve and understand what needs to be done – and then takes action.
Roku is all about nature and respect for nature. It cares about the future and consumers feel the same.
Wild Island Botanic Gin is a lovely premium craft gin that originated on the Isle of Colonsay. It was created out of a partnership between Colonsay Beverages and Langley Distillery, one of the UK’s oldest independent family distilleries.
Wild Island Botanic Gin is crafted around the native botanicals that grow on the crofts of Colonsay which are hand-gathered and include lemon balm, wild water mint, meadowsweet and sea buckthorn and then the gin is distilled in a century-old copper still at Langley Distillery, using 100% British Wheat before being bottled in Scotland at 43.7% ABV using pure Scottish water.
The distillery in Colonsay has a mini still and the distillers like to experiment with different botanicals. Since its inception in 2017, it has created “Distiller’s Cut’ which was the first gin ever to be produced on Colonsay and a honey gin, using local Colonsay honey and a cask-aged gin using old Islay whisky barrels. Its bottle too is evocative of the island – you can imagine a sunny day on the beach there… enjoying Wild Island Gin.
Glasgwegin is also a premium craft gin with a very stylish and innovative bottle – designed to reflect the no-nonsense style of Glasgow and its people. It definitely stands out. Distilled in an artisan still in the heart of Glasgow, its small-batch gin features a blend of eight gin botanicals. It too is award-winning taking on the crown of Scotland’s Best London Dry Gin at the World Gin Awards 2021.
Stranger & Sons is a new gin from Goa from the Third Eye Distillery. It has just signed a deal with Sip and Savour which will see the brand available to bars and pubs in the UK. It is worth looking out for having been declared one of the eight best gins in the world in 2020 by the International Wine & Spirit Competition. It was the only Indian brand to be recognised by the IWSC.
What’s next for the gin distillers? IWSR ( International Wine & Spirit Research) has a warning for distillers, and tells them “obscure and radical botanical tinctures are beginning to overcrowd the gin market, flavour fatigue and lack of equity may start to haunt the category, unless investors moderate and finetune their innovation.”
However licensees should look out for savoury gins as they being to move mainstream and I came across Moonshot gin in my research … it has gone a step further – not to the moon, but every gram of the botanicals used to make this gin was sent into near-space (over 24km) and exposed to an air pressure of less than 1/100th of that at sea level!
McQueen Gin based in Callander and founded in 2015 by Dale and Vicky McQueen says it has become the first in the UK to create a full augmented reality experience within each of its six core range bottles by launching the ‘World’s Coolest Labels’ which come to life to create an immersive gin experience for customers. The technology took six months to develop following a £20,000 investment by McQueen.
By scanning the label via the dedicated McQueen Gin app, customers will be able to view a full-length animation equivalent to a virtual dive into McQueen’s black cherry and vanilla gin pool, or learn about the spirit of Ben Ledi – the mountain which overlooks the distillery – behind its Highland Dry Gin, or follow the antics of the maverick lemon cartoon character and experience a crazy colour explosion.
Dale McQueen, MD of McQueen Gin, said, “At its core, one of the fascinating sociable aspects of society can be found when we share a drink with our friends, either in the pub or in our homes.
“With that option being limited in the current climate, we have enhanced this experience by creating an engaging AR experience on our six core range bottles that people will enjoy sharing across social media. We wanted to make not just an enjoyable tasting gin but an experience which would bond people together and give them something other than great taste to talk about.
“We have achieved this through the new McQueen Gin app, which allows the user to view the augmented reality experience by simply opening the app and pointing their camera at the front label.
“Not only are we the first Scottish Gin company to integrate augmented reality, we believe that we are the first gin company in the whole of the UK to fully integrate augmented reality into our label design with our own dedicated app, showcasing how McQueen continues to lead the industry in innovation.”
A brand-new spirit range from Gin Bothy, called Hipflask Spirits, has launched. Under the Bothy trading label. Hipflask is a separate brand with a Sloe Bramble liqueur and a full strength Golden Spiced Rum and there are plans for a blended whisky in 2022.
Gin Bothy was founded in 2015 by drinks entrepreneur Kim Cameron and is now one of Scotland’s premium gin brands, producing 60,000 units in 2020. She trademarked the new venture years ago looking to introduce it to the Bothy portfolio but hadn’t had the time until 2020 presented the opportunity amidst the chaos. Kim said, “The challenges of 2020 gave me a little bit of space for new projects that had been on the back burner but now had time to flourish.
“Throughout 2020 I was inspired by the way in which people found joy in the outdoors and in pursuits that nourished the soul. This helped drive forward the creation of the brand with the idea of Hipflask Spirts coming from a portable, lighter weight 20cl bottle that can be easily carried in an inside pocket or bag. Hipflask is the spirit of 2021, the spirit of adventure.”
Scottish gin and whisky distiller Eden Mill has submitted a planning application for a major £3.1m development of new production facilities in St Andrews, Fife, which is part of a longer term £8m investment programme.
The expansion will result in an increase of whisky capacity from the 300,000 litres per annum to over one million bottles per year.
The state-of-the-art new facility will also aim to achieve a zero carbon footprint with an emphasis on sustainable whisky production. Eden Mill is at the forefront of environmentally friendly production capability with an aim to establish a strong green supply chain that will benefit the local economy.
The Eden Mill Distillery and Brewery tour is already the number one tourist attraction in the region and the team behind the development are aiming to expand the “No. 1 Thing to do in Fife” rating.
Paul Miller (pictured), Co-Founder of Eden Mill, said, The Eden Mill at the Eden Campus is the perfect location to create our innovative new distillery and production facility. The demand for the Eden Mill wide range of whisky and gin products is growing at a rapid pace and this modern new plant will help us satisfy that demand and expand even further. It will also create a great new working environment for all of the team behind Eden Mill’s continued success.”
The upgrade involves around £1.1m in building works and £2m in plant expansions. Architects
for the project are Opfer Logan of Glasgow.
Lead Architect, David Martin, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering Eden Mill on the design
of their new high-tech distillery. We believe the design strategy driving this project reflects the
creativity behind the Eden Mill brand and their award-winning portfolio of gins, whiskies and
beers.”
The development is expected to be completed by summer 2020. While the re-development takes place Eden Mill will continue to employ around 20 members of staff in the area, occupying a temporary distillery to maintain current production supply requirements.
According to the William Grant & Sons Market Report 2018, the gin category is worth £1.46bn, or 4.1m 9L cases, in the UK – growing a staggering +£346.7m from 2017. Sales growth in the UK on-trade is principally being driven the most, in actual terms, by gin (+£181.9m).
Said Izzy Almond, GM,
of The Royal Dick in
Edinburgh, “I’d say that
more men are drinking gin
and both sexes are willing
to experiment beyond a
G&T. Pickering’s Original
1947 Gin goes really well
with ginger ale, but we’re
also finding customers
asking for it to be mixed
with Dr Pepper. I’ve tried
it and it’s really good. It
goes really well with the
orangey-spicy-ness.”
THE UK BOUGHT A RECORD BREAKING 73 MILLION BOTTLES OF GIN LAST YEAR ACROSS THE ON AND OFF-TRADE (NIELSEN/CGA)
In a recent survey of Scotland’s gin lovers by The Scottish Gin society, Kintyre Botanical Gin came second and the Teasmith Gin polled at number 5! In total, 6435 unique votes were cast in a survey that asked consumers to pick one of the many gins produced in Scotland as their favourite.
Prior to gin becoming a spirit we
enjoy for leisurely reasons, the spirit
was used for medicinal purposes. In
India, it was used to make tonic water
and cinchona mixture a more palatable
taste to combat malaria.
There’s no set maximum, but
the minimum alcoholic strength
of gin is 37.5%.
Trossachs Distillery recently welcomed a new arrival called ‘Big Doogy’ the still, joining little sister ‘Little Maggie’ in the production of McQueen Gin. Big Doogy was made using the purest copper, took nine months to build, and sports a ‘Big Doogy’ nameplate. He has a volume capacity of 1,200 litres with an output of 3,640 litres of finished gin per day. We can see where he gets his name from!
Gin had been known as ‘Mother’s Milk’ from the 1820s but later in the century it became known as ‘Mother’s Ruin’, a description perhaps originating from the earlier ‘Blue Ruin’ of the prohibition era in the previous century.
Crabbie’s is a brand with a heritage dating back to 1801. The original Crabbie’s Gin recipes were found in an archive dating back to 1837. The initial launches have all been recreated from different recipes found in the archive and include some unusual botanicals.
The expression ‘Dutch courage derives from Gin being a Dutch invention. It was first distilled in Holland in the 16th century. The flavouring in gin comes from juniper berries and the Dutch for ‘juniper’ is ‘jenever’, which got Anglicised to ‘ginever’ and then to ‘gin’. The Dutch were the principal adversaries of the British at the time.
Kintyre Botanical Gin is sustainably produced using renewable energy, powered from the small hydro-electric scheme at Torrisdale Castle Estate. Its water is sourced from the hill from which the gin takes its name. ‘Beinn an Tuirc’ translates from gaelic as ‘The Hill of the Wild Boar’ and is the highest point in Kintyre, located above the distillery building.
Gin and curry go together. The marriage of flavours works will because neither overpowers the other.
Edinburgh-based distillery, The Old Curiosity, is offering customers the opportunity to see the gin-making process for themselves, with the launch of its Gin Garden Tours from March 23rd 2019.
Based at the Secret Herb Garden at the foot of the Pentland Hills, the tours allow visitors to walk around the UK’s ‘first and only pure working gin botanical garden’, says the distillery. Gin enthusiasts can experience the tranquillity of the garden as well as see, smell and touch the growing botanicals and visit the drying room. They’ll also be able to witness the still in action enjoy a glass of gin in a newly-created Gin Lounge.
Curated by The Old Curiosity founder and renowned Scottish herbologist, Hamish Martin, the new tours encapsulate his passion and knowledge.
Said Hamish, “This is an entirely unique offering. Nowhere else in the world has a gin garden and distillery on site as we do here. We’re incredibly proud to say that we grow and pick our own botanicals before drying and distilling them to perfection, to obtain that distinctive natural flavour and unbelievable colour change. It’s incredible to see nature in action!
“Everything we do here is done with love, and we’re excited to welcome gin lovers (or those ready to be converted!) to see the magic of nature and witness how we use it to create these special gins. We hope people are blown away by what they see, smell, taste and learn on these tours.”
With over 1000 juniper bushes, 500 herbs and floral varieties such as scented lemon verbena, geraniums, irises and roses, the Gin Garden is a special tribute to Mother Nature and a feast for the senses.
The Secret Garden Range currently includes Apothecary Rose; Lavender & Echinacea and Chamomile and Cornflower. All three offer subtle and elegant flavours and change colour when tonic is added. Two new gins are being introduced to the range in 2019.
The Old Curiosity Distillery can be found at the Secret Herb Garden on the Old Pentland Road, Edinburgh.
It scooped the best gin gong at last year’s Scottish Bar and Pub Awards, organised by DRAM, and an online survey of Scotland’s gin lovers has revealed that Isle of Harris Gin is the nation’s favourite Scottish gin for the second year in a row.
The consumer survey is run by The Scottish Gin Society, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes and celebrates the Scottish gin industry.
In total, 6435 unique votes were cast, almost double that of the responses received in 2018.
The voting public overwhelmingly selected Isle of Harris as the top Scottish gin with 21% of the votes. Self-described as ‘The Social Distillery’, Isle of Harris Gin is only available directly from the island distillery in order to support local jobs and the island economy. After receiving 1 in 5 of the votes cast, this unique distillery ethos has clearly captured the imagination of gin lovers across Scotland and built impressive customer loyalty for this award-winning brand.
Simon Erlanger, MD, Isle of Harris Distillers commented, “Everyone at the Isle of Harris Distillery is really excited to hear that our Isle of Harris gin has been voted the nation’s favourite in The Scottish Gin Society’s survey for the second year in a row. It is especially good news to know that our gin, despite being only three years old, continues to gain recognition on a national scale and our ethos has really captured the public’s imagination. We are so pleased and proud to know that gin lovers enjoy the flavour and unique story of our world-class gin as much as we do.”
Smaller gins enjoyed success throughout the survey, reflecting the loyal following of many smaller brands, and the diverse landscape of the Scottish gin industry in general. Whilst brands such as Edinburgh Gin, Caorunn Gin and Hendrick’s appeared in the top ten in 2018, the most recent survey shows a departure from the big names in favour of the rise of smaller distilleries. For example, in 2019 the sustainably sourced Kintyre Botanical Gin takes second place, whilst Redcastle Gin lies in third position.
The full top ten list of gins as voted for by the Scottish gin loving public are:
Isle of Harris Gin (Tarbert, Isle of Harris) Kintyre Botanical Gin (Campbeltown, Argyll) Redcastle Gin (Angus) Kirkjuvagr Gin (Orkney) The Teasmith Gin (Udny, Aberdeenshire) Crag & Tail Gin (Angus) Kinrara Highland Gin (Aviemore) The Old Curiosity Gin (Edinburgh) Lussa Gin (Ardlussa, Jura) McLean’s Gin (Strathaven, South Lanarkshire)
The Scottish Gin Society’s survey also asked consumers what they prefer to drink with their gin. Unsurprisingly, nearly 50% of respondents voted for tonic as their favourite mixer, with a further 21% specifying a diet tonic and 13% selecting a flavoured tonic. With an impressive 65% share of the vote, the nation’s runaway favourite tonic brand is Fever Tree.
Stephen White, Founder of The Scottish Gin Society said, “We believe The Scottish Gin Society survey to be the largest of its kind and are delighted to have received twice as many responses in 2019. The results show that the popularity of Scottish gin is still growing, especially with all the new entrants appearing in this year’s survey. We would like to congratulate the brands involved as they are all producing exceptional products and look forward to the bright future of the gin industry in Scotland.”
The Scottish Gin Society is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to promote and celebrate the wonderful world of Scottish gin. It was the first organisation to produce an interactive online distillery map and an A-Z of Scottish gins in order to educate consumers about where their favourite gins are produced. The Society engages with followers from across the globe with a combined social media following in excess of 120,000.
The Scottish Gin Society’s A-Z of Scottish gins now lists 139 separate gins from nearly 70 separate distilleries. It is estimated that some 70-80% of UK produced gin comes from Scotland[1].
English spirits producer 45 West Distillers, which produces Burleighs Gin, is working with Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir’s charity to create a new gin – with all of the profits going directly to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
It helps fund vital research into the causes and potential cures of motor neurone disease.
The recipe was developed by Burleighs Gin head distiller Ed Gibson and Doddie at the distillery in Leicestershire. The pair combined the Burleighs Signature recipe with specially selected botanicals that pay homage to Doddie’s roots in the Scottish Borders. The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was set up in November 2017 by Doddie and his fellow trustees, five months after he revealed that he was suffering from motor neurone disease himself. Doddie earned 61 caps for Scotland during a successful playing career and represented The British & Irish Lions on their victorious 1997 tour to South Africa.
Doddie has been driven to help fellow sufferers and seek ways to further research into this, as yet, incurable disease since his first diagnosis.
In its first year, the foundation committed to raise £1 million to help find a cure and to support those affected by MND, and they are confident of investing a similar figure in 2019.
YStirlingshire-based true craft spirit brand McQueen Gin has announced year-on-year revenue growth figures of over 300%.
In the businesses latest financial reports, revenue growth from first half FY18 to first half FY19 was 342% with sales totaling £970,000.00, whilst revenue growth over the same period FY17 to FY18 was 282%, with sales totaling £283,500.00.
In recent months, the family-run brand, established by Dale and Vicky McQueen (pictured) in July 2015, announced the opening of a brand-new, state of the art 6,200²ft distillery facility on its premises this April 2019. McQueen Gin has invested in the region of £750,000 in this development which will see its overall manufacture, bottling, pack, and ship capacity increase by greater than 1,000%, as the brand looks to build on recent successes and further expand its operation.
Co-founder and Managing Director, Dale McQueen, said,‘’Our growth has been unprecedented in the last few years and we want to take advantage of that by not taking our foot off the gas. We are investing in the build of the infrastructure required to equip us to keep innovating, growing and developing exciting and desirable products for the fast-evolving and demanding gin market.
‘’With increased demand and capacity comes increased opportunity. When open and in full operation, we expect the new distillery to create as many as 12 new jobs in our local area, if not more. We have already filled three new positions since the build began and we will be looking to bring in more staff imminently as we make the official move to the new facility and our demand continues to increase. Our location is an area which we hold dear to us and which has played a central part in the building of our brand, so it’s great to be able to give something back as we expand our business.’’
The new facility, built alongside the current distillery, is planned to be opened in April by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Pickering’s Gin & Edinburgh Festival Fringe launch exclusive bottling
Pickering’s Gin has launched an exclusive bottling with Edinburgh Festival Fringe, marking the 70th anniversary of its original Bombay gin recipe and the birth of the fringe festival concept 70 years ago in Edinburgh.
Seventy years ago the distiller scribbled down a nine botanical gin recipe at Mount Mary, Bombay and that fragment of paper, bestowed to Marcus Pickering by a friend of his late father in 2013, has become the gin company’s raison d’être. In the years since, the small central Edinburgh distillery has brought Bombay-style gin back to life by modernising, tinkering, ageing, distilling, bottling, labelling and waxing a range of gins by hand. All from the former kennels of the former Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, now one of Europe’s biggest independent arts centres, Summerhall.
Crafted in partnership with the Fringe another Edinburgh oldie celebrating its 70th anniversary, the one-off run of 650 bottles has been distilled precisely to the old recipe exactly 70 years on from its creation.
Kokoro Gin launches miniature bottle
Koko Kokomo Gin is now available in a miniature bottle, similar to its signature 70cl bottle. The miniatures are being marketed to the on-trade through specialist spirits agency, Mangrove.
The new 5cl bottles will also allow Kokoro to tap into the hotel and catering industries, expanding its reach across the UK and meeting high volume demand. Kokoro was launched in September 2016and has at its core sansho berries, are hand-picked and imported to the UK from the Afan Woodland, a sustainable forest in the Nagano region of Japan. Used extensively in Japanese cuisine, sansho berries have a distinctive pepper flavour with a citrus aftertaste. Combined with eight other botanicals, the sansho berries give Kokoro Gin its unique flavour.
James Nicol, managing director at Forest Spirits, which produces Kokoro Gin, said, “Introducing the miniature bottles will enable us to provide potential stockists with samples, as well as accommodate the hotel industry and help them fill up their mini bars. We’ve also had requests from fusion restaurants for sample bottles, which we can now fulfil and encourage high volume sales.”
mo Gin is now available in a miniature bottle, similar to its signature 70cl bottle. The miniatures are being marketed to the on-trade through specialist spirits agency, Mangrove.
The new 5cl bottles will also allow Kokoro to tap into the hotel and catering industries, expanding its reach across the UK and meeting high volume demand. Kokoro was launched in September 2016and has at its core sansho berries, are hand-picked and imported to the UK from the Afan Woodland, a sustainable forest in the Nagano region of Japan. Used extensively in Japanese cuisine, sansho berries have a distinctive pepper flavour with a citrus aftertaste. Combined with eight other botanicals, the sansho berries give Kokoro Gin its unique flavour.
James Nicol, managing director at Forest Spirits, which produces Kokoro Gin, said, “Introducing the miniature bottles will enable us to provide potential stockists with samples, as well as accommodate the hotel industry and help them fill up their mini bars. We’ve also had requests from fusion restaurants for sample bottles, which we can now fulfil and encourage high volume sales.”
Pickering’s Gin have developed their first ever Scottish gin to celebrate the Royal Military Edinburgh Tattoo.
‘Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Gin’ is made with the base of Pickering’s along with heather, Scots pine, bog myrtle and milk thistle – the first time the brand have enhanced their original Bombay recipe with Scottish botanicals.
The gin will come in a collector’s edition bottle complete with a wrap in the official red, green and blue tartan of the Military Tattoo. The 35cl bottle will retail at £20 and be available from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo shop on Cockburn Street, directly from Pickering’s Summerhall Distillery and online at http://bit.ly/TattooGin.
Marcus Pickering, Pickering’s co-founder and head of export, commented, “We’re a proud Edinburgh business and, like The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, we’re constantly looking outward.
“The Splash of Tartan theme celebrates Scotland’s disparate clans and families and the spread of Scottish ideas across the world. We hope our collectable half bottle will delight the thousands of visitors to the city as much as the locals who enjoy the fireworks emerge from the Castle Esplanade every evening in August.”
Matt Gammell, co-founder and head distiller, said, “Key Pickering’s botanicals, like cinnamon, cloves & cardamom are a far cry from indigenous Scottish botany. However this year’s ‘Splash of Tartan’ theme for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo posed an experimental opportunity not to be missed. This is our own take on a classic Scottish Gin, incorporating the characteristic Pickering’s punch.”
This year’s tattoo takes place on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade from the 4th of August to the 26th.
There’s no doubt about gin’s popularity in the on-trade and with Scotland leading the production of craft gin, licensees have plenty to offer customers.
In 2016, UK gin sales surpassed £1bn for the first time and if the category continue to grow, it could overtake domestic whisky sales by 2020!
So we couldn’t think of a better time to share some interesting facts and figures about gin’s place in the Scottish on-trade, and highlight Scotland’s best-selling brands and emerging craft gins to look out for.
Kirkjuvagr gin makers Orkney Distilling Ltd have announced plans for a new artisan distillery and visitor centre in Kirkwall – the largest town on Orkney – which will see the company expand its workforce and product line.
Work is now underway on the new Ayre Road distillery and visitor centre, which is expected to be open in August 2017 and will create between eight and 10 jobs locally.
Stephen Kemp, Managing Director of Orkney Distilling Ltd, said, “Our aim is to have the project completed by the end of August, with our focus then on training our new staff and gradually moving full production of Kirkjuvagr to Ayre Road.”
Orkney Distilling Ltd was formed early last year by local couple Stephen and Aly Kemp, who launched their first gin, Kirkjuvagr (meaning ‘Church Bay’ in Old Norse), last August.
Full production of the gin will move to the new Kirkwall seafront distillery once operational. The company also has plans for further product lines, which it will reveal later this year.
The new project promises to be a vital new Orkney’s tourist attractions, said Kemp.
He added, “It’s always been our intention to create a project that both the local community and Orkney’s many visitors can enjoy.
“With a major increase in tourist numbers predicted for this year, along with a rise in cruise ship visits, there’s a real need for more high-quality attractions in the county to enhance the experience of those travelling to our islands.”
Kirkjuvagr has been hailed as being “unmistakably Orcadian” and contains a blend of local botanicals including, Angelica, which grows in only a couple of specific locations in Orkney.
