NB Gin
Buy this ginMade 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.
Flavour profile
Botanicals (8)
Eight classic London Dry botanicals run through a slow single-shot distillation — citrus-forward and structurally clean
Tasting notes
An unusually citrus-forward London Dry. Big lemon and orange peel sit on top of a confident juniper backbone, with coriander warmth in the mid-palate. Cleaner and brighter than most London Drys at the price — built for a sharp G&T or a citrus-forward cocktail.
Bright lemon, fresh juniper, hint of orange
Citrus first, then juniper, then coriander warmth — clean throughout
Long, dry, citrus-led
How it's made
NB uses a slow single-shot distillation — no concentrate, no later dilution from a batch — which gives the gin its clean, structurally honest character. Small copper still, small batches, no shortcuts.
Perfect serve
A standard Indian tonic with a generous lemon twist is all this gin needs. The citrus character does the heavy lifting.
Beyond the G&T
NB Navy 75
Coupe- ·25ml NB Navy Strength
- ·15ml fresh lemon juice
- ·10ml sugar syrup
- ·50ml dry sparkling wine
- ·Lemon twist
Shake gin, lemon, and syrup with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon twist.
NB Navy at 57% gives this the structural punch a French 75 needs. Excellent winter aperitif.
The NB Gin range
Bigger, oilier, more juniper-forward — a proper navy gin built for serious cocktails. The bottle bartenders actually order.
Awards
NB is the East Lothian gin that quietly racks up serious awards. The standard bottling is one of the best citrus-led London Drys in the country; the Navy Strength is a bartender favourite for a reason. Pricing is fair for the level of craft — slow single-shot distillation isn’t cheap to do.
Food pairings
A natural with citrus-led food — particularly seafood with a sharp dressing.
Where to buy
Supermarket availability
Availability checked April 2026. Prices and stock may vary by store.
Visit NB Distillery
NB runs tours of its North Berwick distillery from £25, including the slow single-shot process and a tutored tasting of the range. A short hop east of Edinburgh by train.
Compare NB Gin with
Frequently asked questions
What does NB stand for?
North Berwick — the East Lothian coastal town where the distillery is based.
Where is NB Gin distilled?
At NB Distillery in North Berwick, East Lothian — about 30 minutes east of Edinburgh by train.
Is NB Navy Strength worth the upgrade?
Yes if you make a lot of cocktails — the 57% ABV gives Negronis, martinis and French 75s the structural punch they need. For G&Ts, the standard 42% bottling is the better bet.
Can you visit NB Distillery?
Yes — tours from £25 from the North Berwick site. Easy day trip from Edinburgh by train (less than 30 minutes).
Similar gins
Hendrick’s
contemporarylowland
Instantly recognisable for its cucumber-and-rose signature. Soft, floral, unmistakably restrained on the juniper. More perfumed than punchy — this is a gin for people who don't want their G&T to taste like a pine forest. The finish is clean and short, which makes it dangerously easy to drink on a warm afternoon.
Edinburgh Gin
contemporarylowland
Soft and approachable. Juniper takes a back seat to the floral heather note, with a subtle pine resin underneath. Sweet enough to drink without much fuss but lacks the bigger flavour of Hendrick’s or the structure of The Botanist. The Seaside variant is the more interesting bottle in the range.
Glaswegin
contemporarylowland
Soft, light, citrus-forward and easy. The juniper takes a back seat — this is more apéritif than dry martini territory. Not a complicated gin, but at sub-£25 it doesn’t need to be. Good for casual G&Ts and outdoor drinking.
Pickering's Gin
london-drylowland
A proper London Dry with a warm Indian spice twist. Big juniper, then cardamom and clove warmth in the mid-palate, with a clean citrus lift. The closest thing on the Scottish gin shelf to a classic Bombay style — and at sub-£25 it's outstanding value.
Lind & Lime
contemporarylowland
Bright citrus-forward gin with a distinctive pink peppercorn warmth on the finish. Clean, balanced, and versatile. One of the best new Scottish gins of the 2020s.
Darnley's Gin
london-drylowland
Clean and elegant, elderflower-forward with a crisp juniper base. Lighter than most Scottish gins — designed for subtlety rather than statement.
Related articles
5 min read
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?
5 min read
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.
11 min read
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.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, TasteSCOT may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects our ratings or reviews. TasteSCOT is an independent editorial site. If you drink, please drink responsibly.