Scottish Gin Brand Directory

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.