The team behind Edinburgh Gin are gearing up to open their new distillery. Located on East Market Street, the distillery is built around four of the historic East Market Street Arches, dating back to 1825.
The new home for the brand is close to Waverley Station, and has been under construction for over five years. Now, after a long wait, the opening date has been revealed.
Edinburgh Gin was established in 2010 and was bought by Ian Macleod Distillers in 2016. The original distillery and visitor centre, which opened in 2014, was a cosy space on Rutland Place. The brand also opened a distillery in the Biscuit Factory in Leith two years after opening on Rutland Place.
Booking for tours at the new Arches distillery are from 6 December meaning the venue is close to opening - great news for fans of Edinburgh Gin.
The new state-of-the-art gin distillery will now produce every drop of Edinburgh Gin and is built upon the site of the historic Trinity Church, where the roots of botanical exploration were first planted centuries ago.
The new distillery is home to painstakingly preserved features including historic arches and exposed brickwork, as well as new additions such as floor-to-ceiling windows, a roof terrace, a chic bar, and most importantly two bespoke copper stills.
These new 2,000L stills - named Annie and Lina after two of the first female gardeners to work at Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh in 1897 - have been engineered with precision in Germany by esteemed coppersmiths Carl, and represent the epitome of craftsmanship and innovation in the world of gin distillation.
Joining Annie and Lina is a smaller still - named Matilda - to be used for experimental development. Together, the new stills serve as more than just functional equipment, and are symbols of Edinburgh Gin’s unwavering commitment to excellence.
These three copper stills are set to be the heart of the distillery and will ensure that every single bottle of Edinburgh Gin embodies the wonder-filled essence of the city's spirit.
Classic tour and tasting - £29.40
The classic tour and tasting where visitors can experience the craftsmanship of Edinburgh Gin and find out more about the history of gin and the brand’s role in this.
Visitors can also find out more about the flavour and aromas that come from the botanicals. There’s then a visit to the stillhouse before enjoying samples of expressions with selected mixer and garnish pairings in one of the tasting rooms.
Gin and chocolate pairing - £35
This experience is one for those with a sweet tooth and start with a distillery tour before a gin and chocolate tasting, with chocolates supplied by COCO Chocolatier.
Mix and muddle cocktail class - £50
This cocktail class will take place in the roof garden bar where visitors will learn the art of cocktail making and gin-based cocktails.
You’ll learn about four drinks, learning about the different techniques, textures and tastes that go into building a balanced drink, including the opportunity to make your own.
Gin making experience - £140
The ultimate experience for gin fans is making your own bespoke gin. This starts with a tour of the distillery, before heading to the Arches gin lab where you’ll select botanicals for your gin.
Then one of the small copper pot stills will be fired up while you enjoy a seasonal tutored tasting of gins while your gin is being distilled. The experience ends with you creating a custom label while toasting your gin with a G&T.
Find out more about the new distillery and book a tour via the Edinburgh Gin website.
