The best Scottish Christmas gins to check out this festive season

With Christmas not far away, we've picked out the best Scottish Christmas gins that are the perfect gift for any drinks fan this festive season.

Published 29th Oct 2018
Updated 18 th Sep 2023

It's the fastest growing spirit in the UK and Scotland has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the juniper spirit, so what better way to celebrate the festive season than trying out one of these exciting Christmas (or should that be Ginmas) gins?

The Christmas Gins

Misty Isle Mulled Christmas Gin 

(Producers: Isle of Skye Distillers, Price: £36.00)

Christmas Gin

Picture: Isle of Skye Distillers

Bringing together a host of traditional flavours that you'd associate with a mulled wine including botanicals such as star anise and liquorice root (all of which are soaked in the rich, Italian Amarone red wine prior to distilling), this new gin from Isle of Skye Distillers is perfect for the festive season.

It's described by the team as having a similar flavour profile to a "delicious mulled wine combined with a generous juniper hit", and they recommend enjoying it with a Scottish tonic water, a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick.

Candy Cane Christmas Gin

(Producers: Eden Mill, Price: £32.50)

Picture: Eden Mill

A special release for Christmas, Eden Mill have gone all out with their YuleTide offering, the Candy Cane Christmas Gin comes in a striking bottle reminiscent of the famous sugar stick, is described as being "sweet on the palate", with a subtle "juniper resin leading to a warmer, rich minty character with hints of light, berry fruits".

Using peppermint for flavour, and bilberry and hibiscus for colour, Eden Mill's distillers have gone all out to create this fun Christmas Gin.

• READ MORE: The most unusual food and drink advent calendars released this year

Gin Bothy Mulled Gin 

(Producers: Gin Bothy, Price: £36.00)

The second of the mulled gins on this list comes from the ever popular Gin Bothy and is described by Kim and the team as being the "perfect winter warmer".

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Infused with cinnamon, cloves and mixed spices, it’s best served "0ver ice or with ginger ale".

Or if you're feeling particularly festive why not warm it a little, and add a splash of apple juice, for a hot treat.

Christmas GoodWill Gin

(Producer: GlenWyvis Distillery Price: £36.99)

What better time for a little GoodWill than Christmas and that's exactly the thinking behind the latest release from social distillery GlenWyvis. Matured in oak casks, this limited edition spiced gin is described as having the seasonal flavours of cinnamon and rich dried fruits.

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Advent Calendars

Luxury Chocolate Calendar

(Producer: Craft 365, Price: £36.50)

Craft56°, an online retailer specialising in Scottish craft drinks and gifts, has collaborated with Sugarsnap Chocolate & Confectionery to launch this exciting calendar which combines gin and chocolate.

The innovative festive product pairs white, milk and dark chocolate with Scottish gin (as well as other Scottish craft spirits) to produce a range of “tasty handmade bonbons with alcohol-infused ganache fillings”.

The Twelve Gins of Christmas

(Producer: B & M, Price: £29.99)

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Gin lovers are in for a treat this Christmas with B&M stores launching a boozy advent calendar to help you count down to the big day - and for a great price.

The ‘Twelve Gins of Christmas’ advent calendar features 12 specially selected miniature bottles of gin hidden behind its doors and won't break the bank.

Edinburgh Gin calendar

(Producer: Edinburgh Gin, Price: £125)

Christmas Gins

Gin connoisseurs can countdown the days until Christmas with this calendar packed with miniatures.

Created exclusively for John Lewis, the Edinburgh Gin Advent calendar contains 25 mini 5cl bottles showcasing the full Edinburgh Gin range and is priced at £125.

This includes their London Dry style gins – such as the navy strength Cannonball and festive Christmas gin – and their popular fruit gin liqueurs such as Plum and Vanilla, and Raspberry on offer behind each door.

• READ MORE: 30 of the best Scottish gins including the Scottish Gin of the Year

Eden Mill 12 gins of Christmas

(Producer: Eden Mill, Price: £70)

This set – priced at £70 – sees established Eden Mill favourites Original Gin, Love Gin, Hop Gin and Golf Gin joined by some festive flavours – including Mulled Gin, Orange and Clove Gin and After Dinner Gin.

Other flavours include the Caribbean-inspired Slackwater Gin, cardamom-infused Rai Gin, the Mediterranean Botano Gin and the so-called ‘juniper monster’, the Juniper Trio Gin.

And finally...

Pickering's Gin Baubles

(Producer: Pickering's, Price: £30 for a pack of 6)

Picture: Pickering's

Originally launched in 2014, Pickering’s gin baubles went viral after we broke the story about them in 2016, leading to coverage on news websites around the world, including one created by TV legend Martha Stewart.

The decorations proved so popular that they crashed the website on their release two years ago and led to the distillery at Summerhall increasing their production just to meet demand.

Hugely popular, they'll be the first name on many a gin fan's lips this Christmas.

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Driven by a passion for all things drinks-related, Sean writes for The Scotsman extensively on the subject. He can also sometimes be found behind the bar at the world famous Potstill bar in Glasgow where he continues to enhance his whisky knowledge built up over 10 years advising customers from all over the world on the wonders of our national drink. Recently, his first book was published. Dubbed Gin Galore, it explores Scotland's best gins and the stories behind those that make them.
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