Aberdeenshire

Where is it from?
Aboyne, Aberdeenshire

What's in it?
Juniper, heather, willow herb, clover pollen, honey, heather flowers, brambleberries, raspberries, rosehip, coriander seeds, angelica root, liquorice root, orange and lemon peel

What's the damage?
£36.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
43% ABV

What makes it interesting?

From the old Scots tongue, ‘eenoo’ means just now, at the present time, or at once – representative of the fact that gin is having a moment. Crafted in the Lost Loch Distillery, the gin flavour profile encompasses the essence of a traditional gin while embracing botanicals from the Scottish Highlands.

Distilled in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. 

Where is it from?
Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire

What's in it?
Juniper, heather, milk thistle, peppercorn, citrus, silver birch sap.

What's the damage?
£35.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
42% ABV for 70cl

What makes it interesting?

As Esker Gin is inspired by the flowing crystal waters of the River Dee and the Silver Birch trees that line its path, it embodies the spirit of Royal Deeside. It is created with over a dozen responsibly sourced botanicals, many from the Kincardine Estate, and distilled in a copper still and bottled on site. 

Gins in the Esker family:
Esker Gin
Esker Honey Spiced Gin

Distilled in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Where is it from?
Aberdeen

What's in it?
Juniper, spring fir needles, grapefruit

What's the damage?
£32.00 for 50cl

Is it Strong?
41.9% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Granite North Gin follows in the footsteps of Scots through the ages, intent on turning the purest of highland waters into the finest of spirits. Early distillers would take small stills into the high mountain peaks of Scotland to make uisge-beatha: the water of life. Pioneering distillers would flavour their spirit with natural ingredients picked from the surrounding mountains and glens, such as juniper berries, pine needles and thistle flowers. This gin does the same: with a subtle infusion of Grand Fir needles, the spirit is designed to summon the fresh aromas of the pure mountain air.

Distilled under contract in Perthshire, Scotland. 

Where is it from?
Newmachar

What's in it?
Juniper, coriander, citrus, angelica, pink peppercorn, sweet fennel, heather and rose petals.

What's the damage?
£38.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
42% ABV

What makes it interesting?

House of Elrick is an estate in the lowlands of Aberdeenshire, rich in heritage and history. Constructed in 1720 at the height of the Scottish Enlightenment period, revered creative, philosophical and scientific minds would meet here to discuss intellectual and scientific discoveries. Made in batches of 600 bottles, the core of the gin is constructed around the flavours of heather, pink peppercorns, sweet fennel and rose petals for a distinctive aromatic quality. Most importantly, water from Loch Ness lends it an earthy, fresh sensation. The House of Elrick Old Tom gins use the original gin as a base, sweetened with syrup and coconut.

Gins in the House of Elrick family are:
House of Elrick Gin
House of Elrick Old Tom Gin
House of Elrick Old Tom Coconut Gin 

Distilled on site in Newmacher.

Where is it from?
Aberdeen

What's in it?
Juniper, apples, carrots and hay

What's the damage?
£35.00 for 50cl

Is it Strong?
43% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Ginkhana contains ‘horsey’ botanicals, including green apples, organic carrots and Deeside meadow hay. The gin is the brainchild of Aberdeen-based rider David Lawson, whose two great loves are gin and horses.

Distilled under contract in Banchory, Aberdeenshire.

Where is it from?
Huntly, Aberdeenshire

What's in it?
Juniper, angelica bark, almonds, coriander seed, cassia, lemon peel, liquorice root, saffron, orris root and orange peel.

What's the damage?
£28 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
46% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Indian Summer Gin makes use of one of the world's most costly spices by weight - saffron. This pricey spice is infused into the gin, which has imparted intense, sweet and subtly earthy notes. 

The gin is distilled in England and bottled at the Duncan Taylor plant in Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

Where is it from?
Aberdeen

What's in it?
Juniper, lemon, grapefruit, coriander, ginger, fennel, cardamom, cinnamon and angelica, plus ‘first flush’ Darjeeling tea.

What's the damage?
£30.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
40% ABV

What makes it interesting?

This single estate tea gin has been created by three drinks specialists: Adrian Gomes, who owns Aberdeen bars The Tippling House, Rye & Soda and Bos’n, and events company 10 Dollar Shake; bartender and mixology guru Matt Dakers; and Jack Rackham, Commercial Director of leading distributor Emporia Brands. It is made from First Flush Darjeeling Tea, sourced from the Goomtee Estate, a single-estate tea plantation in the Kurseong Valley in India – which explains the name. This tea is known to tea-lovers as the ‘Champagne of Teas’ given that the springtime harvest produces the gentlest of black teas with delicate floral notes. The result is a citrus-forward gin with aromatic spices, peaches and apricots.

Distilled under contract in Dijon, France.

Where is it from?
Ellon, Aberdeenshire

What's in it?
Juniper, coriander, angelica root, cardamom, pink peppercorn, Thai lemon grass, Kaffir lime leaf, mace, almond, fresh lemon peel, fresh red grapefruit peel, lavender and Scots pine needles.

What's the damage?
£32.00

Is it Strong?
43% ABV

What makes it interesting?

From the beer giant BrewDog, Lone Wolf Spirits is making gin, vodka and whisky – all distilled grain to glass in house. The gin is a 100% malt barley spirit with citrus up front, followed by pine needles which leaves a long finish. 

Gins in the Lone Wolf family include:
Lone Wolf Gin
Lone Wolf Gunpowder Gin

Distilled in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Where is it from?
Aberdeen

What's in it?
Juniper, angelica, almond, coriander, liquorice, lemon, orange, buddha's hand, pink peppercorn, orris root, cassia bark and cinnamon.

What's the damage?
£30.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
41.5% ABV

What makes it interesting?

The first distiller in Aberdeen for over 100 years, Porter's Gin was created by three friends who wanted to develop a high quality, bold juniper spirit. It is named after Prof Andrew Porter of Aberdeen University, who sourced distillation equipment which allowed the team to distil botanicals with lighter, fresher flavours at cold temperatures. The other botanicals, more suited to a traditional copper pot still, are distilled at the home of Greenall's Gin.

Distilled under contract in Warrington, England.

Where is it from?
Aberdeen

What's in it?
Juniper, mandarin, cassia bark, coriander and cubeb pepper.

What's the damage?
£35.00 for 50cl

Is it Strong?
45% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Created by two brothers with a fondness for Norse Mythology, their gin takes the name Raven as it has symbolised both intellect and insight for thousands of years. In Norse tradition, two ravens, Huginn and Muninn - meaning Thought and Memory - accompany Odin, the king of the gods. They are his winged scouts and his eyes over distant lands. Raven Gin takes inspiration from Huginn and Muninn to bring forth a gin with a thoughtful mix of soft spiced botanicals and refreshing mandarin.

Gins in the Raven Spirits family:
Raven’s Founder’s Edition
Raven’s Thought and Memory Gin

Distilled under contract in Banchory, Aberdeenshire. 

Where is it from?
Royal Deeside

What's in it?
Juniper, fresh strawberries and raspberries

What's the damage?
£40.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
40% ABV

What makes it interesting?

The Springmount Spirits team uses the pure waters from the Cairngorm mountain range in their gin. They insist that the quality of the ingredients is paramount, using only the finest Scottish strawberries and raspberries.

Gins in the Springmount family: 
Strawberry and Raspberry
Mint and Lime
Lavender and Lemongrass

Distilled under contract in Deeside.

Where is it from?
Udny, Aberdeenshire

What's in it?
Juniper, hand-picked tea, coriander, orange peel, grains of paradise, angelica, calamus and orris root.

What's the damage?
£38.00 for 50cl

Is it Strong?

What makes it interesting?

With Aberdeenshire’s rich import history and links with the tea trade, the team at Teasmith uses hand-picked tea to chime with their local heritage. It is a special black tea which provides a distinct minty sweetness when distilled.

Distilled under contract in Methven, Perthshire, Scotland.

Where is it from?
Banchory, Aberdeenshire

What's in it?
Juniper, nutmeg, cassia and lime peel

What's the damage?
£35.00 for 50cl

Is it Strong?
43% ABV

What makes it interesting?

The team behind Deeside Brewery has opened a new distillery in River Deeside – Twin River Distillery – to accommodate production of gin and whisky. They take great pride in producing their own base spirit on site. Dee Gin is spicy with notes of citrus. For every bottle sold, a donation is made to the River Dee Trust.

Gins in the Twin River family:
Twin River Dee Gin 
Twin River Naked Gin
Twin River Uncut Gin
Twin River Navy Strength Gin
Twin River Rhubarb Old Tom Gin
Twin River Spiced Plum Gin

Distilled in Banchory, Aberdeenshire. 

Where is it from?
Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire

What's in it?
Juniper, coriander seeds, lemon peel, heather honey and heather blossom

What's the damage?
£38.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
40% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Vesperis Pictish Gin, produced by family-run Blackford Craft Distillery, is inspired by the local landscape and Aberdeenshire’s prehistoric past as the heartland of the Picts. The Picts had a strong brewing tradition using heather which inspired the team to produce a premium artisanal gin and vodka using heather honey and heather blossom as primary botanicals.

Distilled in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.