Edinburgh started its long association with gin in the 1700s. The Netherlands was a key trading partner for Scotland and as a result genever, was imported in vast quantities into the city’s port of Leith. They also give a nod to the Scottish Art Deco movement during gin’s glory days in the 1920’s by way of the bottle label and design. Edinburgh Gin have two distilleries – the original west end location, which is also their visitor centre, and the Biscuit Factory in Leith, Edinburgh’s spiritual home of gin. It’s well known it takes at least three years to create a legal Scotch whisky. But this Scottish spirit takes just three days! On the first day the still is filled with grain neutral spirit. As with most Scottish gins, and indeed those from throughout the UK, Edinburgh Gin buy this in.

Edinburgh Seaside Gin - distiller

Inspired by the East Coast shoreline near Edinburgh, Edinburgh Seaside Gin is the product of a collaboration between the Edinburgh Distillery and Heriot-Watt University’s Brewing & Distilling MSC.

A mixture of maceration and vapour infusion techniques are utilised to create the delightful flavour profile of Edinburgh Gin. The process used depends on the suitability for each botanical, of which there are 14. These are: juniper, coriander, angelica root, orris root, orange peel, lavender, mulberries, pine buds, lemongrass, cobnuts, lime peel, cassia bark, milk thistle, liquorice root. An intriguing mix of traditional and contemporary. Edinburgh Seaside Gin has an interesting story in itself. The distillery has a knowledge transfer partnership with nearby Heriot-Watt University, one of the few institutions in the U.K. where you can acquire a degree in distilling. Indeed, Edinburgh Gin’s own head of distilling, David Wilkinson, is an alumnus of the programme. And it was with students on the Heriot-Watt MSc that Edinburgh Seaside was made.

Edinburgh Gin Distillery - The Gin Guild Edinburgh Gin Distillery - The Gin Guild

Looking for a gin with a hint of the seaside? Then Edinburgh Seaside gin is probably the one for you! With the gin originally created at Langley Distillery, they launched their own distillery and visitor centre in 2014. (As a side note, it’s a great distillery to visit, with a range of tour options. There are two custom bottles proudly on display at From the Gin Shelf HQ from our own ‘Gin Making Tour’. Highly recommended!)

Tasting notes.

Partnering with the city’s Heriot-Watt University, who run the world-renowned Master’s in Brewing and Distilling, Edinburgh Gin have a well established link with the local university. Indeed, many of their distillers were educated there, including head distiller David Wilkinson. With its signature botanicals listed as orange peel, mulberries, pine buds, lavender and lemongrass, the tasting notes aren’t too surprising – but sometimes surprises aren’t always best! There’s a big juniper hit up front on the nose, with citrus not far behind.