Inverurie Whisky Shop owner launches Foghouse Spirits

An Aberdeenshire spirits business has launched their own brand range, kicking off with Foghouse gin.

Published 23rd Sep 2021
Updated 21 st Sep 2023

Mike Stuart who founded the Inverurie Whisky Shop in 2015, has launched a new company, Foghouse Spirits, which will evolve in time to include a single cask whisky range and rum.

Mike, 38, has taken his expert experience and knowledge of the industry and collaborated with the award-winning Lost Loch Spirits company in Royal Deeside to create the small batch gin in micro copper stills.

Inspired by Mediterranean flavours, the handcrafted expression combines nine botanicals including wormwood, which is prized for its distinctive aroma.

Taking inspiration from classic recipes and carefully considered ingredients, the gin delivers notes of rosemary and olive balanced with coriander and cubeb spice.

The company’s name derives from Foghouses found across many of Scotland’s estates.

These man-made shelters are found on hillsides where the Lairds of the past would entertain guests and escape the ordinary.

Speaking of the new venture, Mike said; “We’ve been working on Foghouse since 2019 and wanted to create something that would really stand out from the crowd not just in flavour profile but with the bottle itself.

"We discovered the most beautiful foghouse at Bennachie in Aberdeenshire that overlooks a waterfall.

"It’s tricky to locate but worth it when you find it. It inspired us to craft flavours that would be instrumental in evoking a memory and transporting you to a special place, as a reminder of what makes you happy.

"We call it a little bit of escapism in a glass.

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“We’ve employed a team of experts behind Foghouse to really promote this new gin.

"As a result, we’ve already had interest from pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants around the UK that want to stock it.

"The plan is to cement Foghouse gin into the market and start working on creating the rest of the range next.”

Gin fans who want to find out more about the new gin can purchase a tasting set on the Foghouse website where a limited number of samples are being released.

It’s a chance to discover the journey of Foghouse, more about the flavour profiles that went into making the gin as well as a 10 per cent discount code to purchase the full bottle afterwards.

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The recommended serve, the team said, is to serve with your favourite tonic and garnished with a sprig of rosemary and twist of orange to accentuate the Mediterranean notes.

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Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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