Angus

Where is it from?
Inverkeilor, Angus

What's in it?
Juniper, kelp, carline thistle and blaeberries.

What's the damage?
£35 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
43% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Arbikie Highland Estate, on the east coast of Angus, is home to Kirsty's Gin. As fourth generation Scottish farmers, three brothers have worked to nurture the crops that they use to distil the gin. Master Distiller, Kirsty Black, uses potatoes grown and harvested in Arbikie's own fields, plus local botanicals to embody elements of ocean, rock and land which surround the farmlands. With potatoes and botanicals grown on the Estate, along with distillation and bottling at source, it is a true farm-to-bottle operation.

Gins in the Arbikie family:
Arbikie Kirsty's Gin
Arbikie AK's Gin

Distilled in Inverkeilor, Angus.

Where is it from?
Dundee

What's in it?
Juniper, watermelon, elderflower, orange, lemon, kaffir lime leaf, coriander, angelica, liquorice, orris root, cubeb and cassia.

What's the damage?
£36 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
41% ABV

What makes it interesting?

This small batch gin was created by the team behind the drinks distributor Huffman’s following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The name Crag & Tail is a subtle nod to the Scottish landscape; ingeography, a crag and tail is a landform that consists of a rock hill and tapering ridge which is produced by selective erosion and deposition beneath an ice sheet. Edinburgh Castle and Dundee’s Law Hill are classic examples. 

Distilled under contract in Arbroath, Angus.

Where is it from?
Dundee

What's in it?
Juniper, bitter and sweet orange, orris and angelica root, coriander, cloves, vanilla, ginger, star anise, saffron, marmalade.

What's the damage?
£30.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
26.5% ABV

What makes it interesting?

In tribute to Dundee’s jam-making history, the Dundee Gin Company came up with the idea to make gin using Mackay’s original marmalade recipe.

Gins in the Dundee Gin Co family:
Dundee Marmalade Gin liqueur
Dundee Classic Dry

The team advises that the liqueur gin is produced under contract in Perthshire and the dry gin is made under contract in the Lothians.

Where is it from?
Kirriemuir, Angus

What's in it?
Juniper, heather, milk thistle, Scottish pine needles, hawthorn root and rosemary.

What's the damage?
£35.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
41% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Peel Farm in Angus first started using the berry juices left over from its jam making to make flavoured raspberry gin. Now they make several gins using locally-grown berries compounded with a base spirit produced in Angus. At 22% vol, they are infused for three months on average, and hand-turned every day. Their Original Gin is their first savoury profile. 

Gins in the Gin Bothy family:
Gin Bothy Raspberry Gin
Gin Bothy Strawberry Gin
Gin Bothy Blueberry Gin
Gin Bothy Rhubarb Gin
Gin Bothy Chilli Gin
Gin Bothy Arametto Gin
Gin Bothy Original Gin
Gin Bothy Mulled Gin / Gunshot Gin
Gin Bothy Stirrup Cup

Distilled under contract in Forfar, Angus, Scotland.

Where is it from?
Invergowrie, Angus

What's in it?
Base gin with honey berry infusion and juice

What's the damage?
£35 for 50cl

Is it Strong?
40% ABV

What makes it interesting?

The honeyberry is dubbed the new superberry! A health remedy in the Far East and a long kept secret in Siberia, it is now being grown in Scotland. A collaboration between Arbuckle’s and Strathearn Distillery, the gin is produced in a two stage process: the first is vapour infusion using a 500 litre pot still with a botanical basket, at which stage honeyberry is added. Once distilled, this base gin is blended with fresh unpasteurised honeyberry juice. This creates a double whammy of honeyberry, giving the gin a full flavour and distinctive purple colour. 

Distilled under contract in Methven, Perthshire, Scotland.

Where is it from?
Dundee, Angus

What's in it?
Juniper and coriander base, with other botanicals added

What's the damage?
£25.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
42% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Jaggi Gin was developed by JF Kegs, a Dundee-based keg, bottle and spirit supplier.

Gins in the Jaggi Gin family:
Jaggi Citrus Gin
Jaggi Botanical Gin
Jaggi Sweet Gin

Distilled under contract in Methven, Perthshire, Scotland.

Where is it from?
Dundee, Angus

What's in it?
Juniper and Seville oranges

What's the damage?
£30.00 for 50cl

Is it Strong?
40% ABV

What makes it interesting?

The James Keiller Estates’ Dundee Dry Gin is inspired by the original marmalade made by the Keiller family in the late 18th century. Legend has it that this jammy invention was first made by Janet Keiller in the 1760s with the arrival of a cargo of Seville Oranges in the port from a floundering Spanish ship. Her original recipe is the inspiration for the gin, which bears notes of Seville oranges and juniper.

Distilled under contract in Dundee, Angus. 

Where is it from?
Angus

What's in it?
Juniper, citrus fruits, angelica, coriander and elderflower.

What's the damage?
£39.50 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
42% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Mackintosh Gin is family affair, run by husband and wife team James and Deborah, with input from their three daughters. The logo used in the branding is the ‘Lovers’ Knot’, which is carved into a 9th century Pictish stone, found in an old churchyard in Meigle, near the family’s home. The knot is made up of an unbroken line over four corners that represents the endless round of seasons, enclosed in a circle reflecting infinity, the sun, the power of the female and Mother Earth. 

Distilled under contract in Arbroath, Angus.

Where is it from?
Carmyllie, Angus

What's in it?
Juniper, kaffir lime leaves and pink peppercorn.

What's the damage?
£37.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
40% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Redcastle Gin uses a secret blend of 13 botanicals resulting in a lightly spiced gin with a zesty edge. Each bottle is filled, sealed, wax-dipped and labelled by hand at Redcastle Brewery in Carmyllie.

Distilled under contract in Arbroath, Angus.

Where is it from?
Arbroath, Angus

What's in it?
Juniper, angelica root, orange peel, lemongrass, orris root, lime peel, grains of paradise, bay leaves, red currants, gooseberries and lemon peel.

What's the damage?
£40 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
40% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Smithies Gin is the brainchild of Patti Smith, owner of Smithies Deli in Arbroath, and her two daughters, Jill and Beth, each of whom have been inspired by craft distillers who are making original spirits that also have a story to tell. Patti first opened the doors of the Smithies Deli in 2000 on the site of an old Lipton Tea shop which was also a former butchers shop in Arbroath. Over the past 18 years the deli has evolved into a coffee shop with focus on selling a wide variety of spirits and liqueurs. The inspiration for the gin came from Patti’s dad Donald’s beloved garden, filled with beautiful plants, flowers and herbs.  

Distilled under contract in Arbroath, Angus.

Where is it from?
Dundee

What's in it?
Juniper, coriander seeds, lemon peel, bitter orange, cassia bark, orris root, green cardamom, angelica, liquorice and grains of paradise.

What's the damage?
£35.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
43% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Verdant gin is distilled in small batches in a 500 litre pot still “Little Eddie”. It is juniper-led with fresh notes of citrus on the nose and palate, with warm, earthy undertones of spice. The carefully curated blend of botanicals was inspired by Dundee’s rich trading history and reflects the routes once sailed by traders to and from the city. The name ‘Verdant’ not only conjures up an image of lush green plants and botanicals, but to those who know Dundee the word is synonymous with its jute and weaving industry, encapsulating the spirit of the city.

Distilled in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.