A gin to call your own

Forget signature cocktails — how about a signature brand of gin you can’t find anywhere else? Taking the artisanal produce experience to another level, venues are now offering their customers in-house spirits created with hand-picked bespoke blends designed to complement the style of the hotel/restaurant/bar.

So if you want a #foodcation experience you can’t get anywhere else, here’s where to go.

The Torridon Hotel, Wester Ross: Home of Arcturus Gin (41.5 per cent vol)

Created by the owners of the world-famous luxury Torridon Hotel, Arcturus Gin is distilled with locally foraged botanicals from the surrounding land, sea and mountains, including Scots lovage, blaeberries and kelp. It is named after one of the brightest stars in the night sky.

Deli Craft, Fort William: Home of Lochaber Gin (42 per cent ABV)

Created by the entrepreneurial husband-and-wife team behind Fort William’s hip delicatessan Deli Craft, Lochaber Gin reflects the local area with a fresh, earthy taste and a quirky use of hops. The label features the Sleeping Lady mountain range known and loved by locals.

Smithies Deli, Arbroath: Home of Smithies Gin (40 per cent vol)

Smithies Gin is the brainchild of Patti Smith, owner of the Angus gin emporium Smithies Deli. Motivated by craft distillers who have a story to tell, the inspiration for the gin was Patti’s dad Donald’s beloved garden, filled with aromatic plants, flowers and herbs. As a tribute to him, the gin features bay leaves, redcurrants and gooseberries.

Buccleuch & Queensberry Arms Hotel, Dumfries: Home of BQA Aged Gin (46 per cent vol)

The Buccleuch & Queensberry Arms Hotel teamed up with local business the Creative Whisky Company to produce two house brands: one for whisky and one for gin. One of the first barrel-aged gins in Scotland, this London Dry style is aged for a minimum of three months in an oak whisky barrel.

Tailored Gin is the pinnacle of spirits personalisation. So if you’re interested in developing a bespoke gin brand for your business, drop a line to cheers@ginclubscotland.com

• Chrissie Fairclough is tastings director for Gin Club Scotland, which runs touring and distillery-based tastings, as well as offering tasting kits for people to run their own events. www.ginclubscotland.com

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