IAN Macleod Distillers launched the latest limited edition Edinburgh Gin at the capital’s Royal Botanic Garden on Thursday (April 19).
Picture by Stewart Attwood.
The result of a collaboration between the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RPGE) and Ian Macleod Distillers, Edinburgh Gin 1670 is made using botanicals grown and hand-picked in the botanic garden.
Edinburgh Gin head distiller, David Wilkinson, worked in conjunction with RBGE botanist, Dr Greg Kenicer, for over a year to craft the 43% ABV gin.
A series of 14 plants were selected, with six of the botanicals used taken from the garden’s collection of over 13,000 different plants from around the world, including fennel and sweet cicely as well as more exotic species such as Piper Leaf and Tasmanian Mountain Pepper.
The name of the limited edition gin pays tribute to the year the garden was founded with the packaging incorporating artwork of the botanicals used in the spirit.
Wilkinson said: “Working so closely with Botanist, Dr Greg Kenicer, and to be given access to such a wealth of unique plants and botanicals provided a great opportunity to create something truly special.
“Having a world centre of excellence for botany on our doorstep made for a great natural partnership that enabled us to experiment with a range of handpicked botanicals to create an enticingly aromatic gin with lively herbaceous, almost floral, notes with added peppery spice.”
