Gin
200+ Scottish gins, ruthlessly triaged
Everyone and their auntie launched a gin in the last decade. We help you find the good ones — by style, region, and actual drinking experience.
Featured gin brands
Browse all brands →contemporary
Hendrick’s
The gin that kicked off the contemporary-style boom in the early 2000s. Made at William Grant's Girvan distillery in Ayrshire using two different stills — a Carter-Head and a copper pot — before blending. The unusual dark apothecary bottle was designed to stand out, and twenty years later it still does.
contemporary
The Botanist
Made at the Bruichladdich whisky distillery on Islay, distilled with 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals on top of nine classics. Run through the same 'Ugly Betty' Lomond still that's now spent more time making gin than the whisky it was originally built for.
contemporary
Rock Rose
Distilled at Dunnet Bay in Caithness, just down the road from John o'Groats. Rock Rose uses local botanicals including rhodiola rosea — the wildflower that gives the gin its name and a distinctive earthy character.
contemporary
Caorunn
Made at Balmenach whisky distillery on Speyside, Caorunn (pronounced "ka-roon") uses five Celtic botanicals on top of the classic six. Vapour-infused in a unique copper berry chamber, with a clear apple note that sets it apart.
contemporary
Edinburgh Gin
Edinburgh Gin Classic is the workhorse — a soft, juniper-light contemporary gin made in central Edinburgh. The brand's flavoured variants (Seaside, Rhubarb & Ginger, Raspberry) get more shelf space and probably more sales than the Classic, for better and worse.
contemporary
Isle of Harris Gin
The bottle that launched a thousand Instagram posts. Isle of Harris Gin uses sugar kelp hand-harvested from sea lochs around Harris as its signature botanical. The community-owned distillery in Tarbert has done more for the island’s economy than any other single business.
contemporary
Glaswegin
A young Glasgow gin made in Springburn that has gained shelf space fast. Soft, citrus-led, and more affordable than most premium contemporaries — Glaswegin is the gin you reach for at a barbecue rather than a martini.
contemporary
Misty Isle Gin
Made on Skye by Isle of Skye Distillers, with honey from the distillery’s own bees as a signature botanical. A young brand that punches above its weight on character — gentler and sweeter than the heavy-juniper Skye whisky next door at Talisker.
london-dry
Pickering's Gin
Distilled at Summerhall in Edinburgh — the city's first exclusive gin distillery in over 150 years. The recipe is from a handwritten Bombay note dated 1947, scaled up by hand into a London Dry style with notable warmth.
contemporary
Lind & Lime
Produced at Edinburgh's Port of Leith Distillery — Scotland's first vertical distillery. Lind & Lime takes its name from the linden trees that once lined Leith's commercial streets and the limes carried on ships docked at the port. The gin itself is sharper and more citrus-driven than most Scottish contemporaries, with a pink peppercorn spice that makes it stand out in a G&T. Already winning awards and available in most Scottish specialist shops.
contemporary
Orkney Gin
Made on Orkney using the ancient bere barley variety that's been grown on the islands for over 4,000 years. The gin reflects its geography — maritime, wind-swept, and unlike anything from the mainland. Small production runs and limited distribution outside the islands, but available from specialist retailers and direct from the distillery. Worth picking up if you're visiting Orkney.
london-dry
Darnley's Gin
From the Wemyss family, who also own Kingsbarns whisky distillery in the East Neuk of Fife. Darnley's takes its name from Lord Darnley (husband of Mary Queen of Scots) and the estate's connection to the Stuart court. The gin is more restrained than many Scottish contemporaries — elderflower and citrus rather than heavy botanicals — making it a good alternative for drinkers who find gins like Rock Rose or The Botanist too complex.
contemporary
Avva Scottish Gin
A small-batch Aberdeenshire gin that uses silver birch sap from the local woodland as one of its key botanicals. The birch gives a subtle, slightly sweet woody character that's different from the maritime or heather notes you find in most Scottish gins. Produced by a husband-and-wife team, which keeps the batches small and the quality consistent. Available from specialist retailers in the north-east and online.
london-dry
McLean's Gin
A Glasgow-made London Dry gin that leans into juniper and spice rather than the floral/herbal direction most Scottish gins have taken. The cinnamon is the distinguishing feature — it's present without being overwhelming, adding warmth to the finish. Produced in small batches in Glasgow's south side. Available in most Glasgow bars and specialist shops, and increasingly in Edinburgh and online.
contemporary
Arbikie Kirsty's Gin
Arbikie is a true field-to-bottle distillery — the Stirling family grow their own potatoes, wheat, and barley on the Angus coast. Kirsty’s Gin uses kelp and coastal botanicals from the cliffs above the distillery to make a distinctly maritime contemporary.
contemporary
Kinrara Gin
Produced on the Kinrara estate in the Cairngorms National Park. What makes Kinrara distinctive is the use of wild Cairngorms juniper — a different, more intense variety than the imported juniper most Scottish distillers use. The estate setting means the botanicals genuinely come from the surrounding hills and woodland, not from a supplier catalogue. Small production runs and a strong visitor following among Cairngorms tourists. Available at the distillery, Highland specialist shops, and online.
contemporary
Lussa Gin
Made on the Isle of Jura by three friends who forage their botanicals from the island's coasts, gardens, and moorland. Lussa is as hands-on as Scottish gin gets — the team picks wild botanicals by hand and distils in small batches using a bespoke copper still. The connection to Jura is genuine and visible in the finished product. Available on the island, at selected Scottish retailers, and by mail order. One of the most authentic 'island' gins in Scotland.
london-dry
Makar Glasgow Gin
Made by the Glasgow Distillery Co., the city's first whisky and gin distillery for over 100 years. Makar is a juniper-forward London Dry — drier and more traditional than most Scottish contemporaries, with the Glasgow distillery's seven-pot-still expertise behind it.
contemporary
Eilean Mòr Gin
From Beinn an Tuirc Distillers on the Kintyre peninsula — the first gin distillery in Kintyre and powered entirely by renewable energy from their own hydroelectric and solar installations. The distillery's sustainability credentials are genuine: carbon-negative production, local botanical foraging, and a commitment to minimal waste. The gin itself is gentle and floral — a good representation of the Kintyre landscape. Available from the distillery, Campbeltown shops (combine with a Springbank visit), and online.
contemporary
Kirkjuvagr Orkney Gin
Orkney's first dedicated gin distillery, on the harbour in Kirkwall. Kirkjuvagr (the Old Norse name for Kirkwall, pronounced 'kirk-you-vaar') uses Scapa Flow seaweed as a signature botanical alongside Orcadian angelica and burnet rose.
london-dry
Gordon's
The everyday gin of every British pub for the last fifty years. Distilled at Cameronbridge in Fife — the same Diageo grain distillery that makes Tanqueray and J&B — Gordon's is a classic juniper-led London Dry that does the basic job better than most things at twice the price.
london-dry
Tanqueray
The bartenders' choice. Distilled at Cameronbridge in Fife, Tanqueray is a four-times-distilled, juniper-led London Dry — bigger and cleaner than Gordon's, structurally built for serious cocktails. The recipe hasn't changed since 1830.
london-dry
NB Gin
Made at NB Distillery in North Berwick, on the East Lothian coast. NB London Dry is a precise, citrus-forward London Dry made the slow way — small batches, single shots, no shortcuts. The Navy Strength bottling at 57% is the bottle bartenders order.
contemporary
Shetland Reel
Distilled at Saxa Vord on Unst — the UK's northernmost gin distillery, operating from a former RAF base on Britain's most northerly inhabited island. The flagship Original gin is built on classic London Dry botanicals with locally foraged Shetland apple mint as the signature. Ocean Sent uses Shetland seaweed; Up Helly Aa is a limited-edition heavier botanical mix tied to the annual fire festival.
Why Scotland became a gin powerhouse
Scotland now produces more gin than any other part of the UK, with over 200 brands and 70+ distilleries. The boom started around 2014 when changes to HMRC licensing made small-scale distilling viable, and the country’s existing whisky infrastructure — copper stills, botanists, packaging supply chains — gave new gin makers a running start.
The quality range is enormous. At one end you have Hendrick’s in Girvan, still one of the world’s most recognisable gins, and The Botanist on Islay with its 31 hand-foraged botanicals. At the other, you have dozens of white-label gins — contract-distilled at the same facility, rebottled with a different label and a backstory about a great-uncle’s herb garden. The price tags are often identical.
That’s the gap TasteSCOT fills. We taste blind where we can, verify distillery claims, and flag which bottles are genuinely distilled in-house versus contract-produced. Brands covered so far include Hendrick’s, The Botanist, Rock Rose from Dunnet Bay, Caorunn from Balmenach, and Edinburgh Gin — each with pricing, tasting notes, and our honest verdict.
Editorial
Caorunn Gin Review: The Best-Value Premium Scottish Gin?
Caorunn is Scotland's apple-led gin — distinctive, dry, properly Scottish. At £25–30 it consistently undercuts famous contemporary gins. Honest review.
Hendrick's vs The Botanist: Which Scottish Gin Should You Buy?
Two of Scotland's most famous gins, both around £30–40, both widely available. They taste very different. Here's which one to buy and when.
Isle of Harris Gin: Is It Worth the Price and the Hype?
Isle of Harris Gin costs £40+, comes in a beautiful bottle, and is perpetually sold out. But is the liquid inside genuinely special, or are you paying for the postcode and the Instagram aesthetic?
Scottish Gin and Tonic Pairings: 5 Gins, 5 Serves, No Guesswork
Most G&T advice is generic nonsense. Here are 5 specific Scottish gin + tonic + garnish combinations that actually work, tested at home, with prices.
Best Scottish Gin: An Honest Consumer Guide
Scotland has more gin distilleries than any other part of the UK. We've ranked the ones actually worth drinking — by style, price, and whether they taste like anything other than a template.
Frequently asked questions
+What is the best Scottish gin?
There is no single best — it depends on what you like. For a contemporary cucumber-and-rose style, Hendrick’s is the benchmark. For a juniper-forward London Dry style with Hebridean character, The Botanist on Islay is hard to beat. For something earthy and herbal, Rock Rose from Dunnet Bay or Caorunn from Speyside. Our brand pages cover each in detail.
+How many Scottish gin brands are there?
Over 200, with around 70 active distilleries. The number grew rapidly after 2014 when HMRC licensing changes made small-scale distilling viable. Many newer brands are contract-distilled at shared facilities rather than made in their own still — we flag this on individual brand pages.
+Is Hendrick’s gin really Scottish?
Yes. Hendrick’s is distilled at the Girvan Distillery in Ayrshire by William Grant & Sons, the same family-owned company behind Glenfiddich whisky. The brand identity leans on Victorian aesthetics rather than Scottishness, but it is genuinely Scottish gin.
+What tonic should I use with Scottish gin?
It depends on the gin’s style. Floral or cucumber-led gins (Hendrick’s, Edinburgh) pair well with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic. Heavily juniper-forward gins (The Botanist, juniper-led London Drys) match Fever-Tree Mediterranean or a dryer tonic. Avoid sweetened cheap tonics — they overwhelm everything.
+How much should I pay for a good Scottish gin?
£25–35 is the sweet spot for genuinely well-made Scottish gin in a 70cl bottle. Below £20, you are usually drinking contract-distilled spirit with stronger marketing than character. Above £45, you are paying for limited editions, single-estate botanicals, or packaging — not always meaningfully better gin.
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