Pickering's Gin
Last updated 16 May 2026
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.
Pickering's is the best London Dry made in Scotland and probably the best-value premium gin under £25. The Indian spice profile is genuinely distinctive — there's nothing else quite like it on the shelf. The Navy Strength is the choice for serious cocktails. The branding undersells the quality of the liquid.
Tasting notes
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.
- Nose
- Juniper, fresh citrus zest, hint of cardamom
- Palate
- Big juniper, warm cardamom and clove, gentle citrus, dry finish
- Finish
- Long, warm, slightly spicy — properly dry
Flavour profile
- juniper4/5
- citrus3/5
- floral1/5
- herbal2/5
- spice4/5
- sweet2/5
Botanicals
Nine botanicals built around an unusual Indian-leaning spice profile — cardamom and cloves give it a warmth that distinguishes it from typical Lowland London Drys
How it’s made
- Production
- Distilled in two small copper stills (Gert and Emily) at Summerhall in Edinburgh. The recipe is based on a handwritten 1947 Bombay distilling note, scaled up to modern bottling strength while keeping the Indian-inflected spice profile.
- Still type
- Two small copper stills (Gert and Emily)
- Base spirit
- Wheat spirit
Perfect serve
Indian tonic, pink grapefruit slice, heavy tumbler.
- Garnish
- A pink grapefruit slice — ditch the lemon
- Ratio
- 1:3
- Ice
- Big cubes — the spice notes hold up to chilling.
Pink grapefruit is the signature Pickering's garnish — it picks up the cardamom warmth in a way lemon doesn't. Don't bother with cucumber or rosemary; this gin earns a classic G&T setup.
Cocktails to make with Pickering's Gin
Pickering's Negroni
Rocks
- 25ml Pickering's
- 25ml Campari
- 25ml sweet vermouth
- Orange peel
Stir all ingredients with ice for 30 seconds. Strain over a large ice cube. Express orange oil over the surface.
Food pairings
The cardamom and clove make Pickering’s a rare gin that genuinely works with spiced food.
- Curries (Indian or Thai)
- Tandoori dishes
- Smoked meats
- Spiced cheeses
Where to buy
Supermarket availability
| Supermarket | Stocked | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| tesco | Yes | £28 |
| sainsburys | Yes | £26 |
| waitrose | Yes | £30 |
| asda | Yes | £25 |
Other expressions from Pickering's Gin
Pickering's Navy Strength
Bigger, hotter, more cardamom-forward. A proper navy gin — built for a strong G&T or a serious martini.
Pickering's Original 1947
A faithful recreation of the original 1947 Bombay recipe — heavier on the spice, lower on the citrus than the modern Pickering’s.
Visit the distillery
Tours of Summerhall include the original 1947 recipe story, the small copper stills (Gert and Emily), and a generous tutored tasting. Easy to combine with a tour of Edinburgh's Old Town.
From £20
Book a tourFrequently asked questions
+What style of gin is Pickering's?
A classic London Dry with an unusual Indian spice profile — cardamom, cloves, and anise alongside the standard juniper-led backbone. Closer in character to a vintage Bombay than a modern contemporary gin.
+Where is Pickering's made?
At Summerhall Distillery in central Edinburgh — the city's first exclusive gin distillery in over 150 years.
+Is Pickering's good for cocktails?
Yes, particularly Negronis and martinis where the spice character adds genuine complexity. The Navy Strength bottling at 57.1% is the choice if you make a lot of cocktails.
+What does the 1947 in the recipe refer to?
The recipe is based on a handwritten Bombay distilling note dated 1947, brought back to Scotland and scaled up by the founders. The Original 1947 bottling is the closest replica of that historical recipe.
Compare with similar gins
Edinburgh Gin
contemporary · lowland
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.
Tanqueray
london-dry · lowland
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.
Gordon's
london-dry · lowland
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.
Where to stay near Summerhall Distillery
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Pickering's Gin's distillery.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Plan your distillery visit
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