At the peak of the popular hydropathic movement, it was this water which drew people in from all over the UK for its healing properties. Gin fans can take a look at this year's best Scottish gins after the finalists in the 6th annual Scottish Gin Awards were revealed.

The Scottish Gin Awards is the one of the largest gin competitions in the UK and revealed its winners following a rigorous judging process involving 46 leading experts, the assessment of 63 written entries and the blind tasting of over 200 gins, all distilled in Scotland. Adam Hardie, chairman of the Scottish Gin Awards and Head of Food and Drink at Johnston Carmicheal, said: “The Scottish Gin Awards 2022 is a great opportunity to celebrate the many accomplishments of our industry over the last 12 months.We look forward to welcoming you all to the Scottish Gin Awards dinner in Glasgow in November - the best party ever in the awards calendar.” They have created four premium gins including London Dry, Pavilion Pink and Subtly Smoked. The fourth gin, Navy Strength at 57% ABV is stronger than the others at 40%, and is named after the Dutch sailors of the 18th century who were known to drink gin for ‘Dutch courage’ before going into battle. To bring the best out of these premium gins, four tonic waters have also been created – Tonic 81. All using the same water source, these include Premium, Light, Pink grapefruit and Elderflower. The discovery tour starts with a gin and tonic (naturally!) and covers the history of the Hydro, before you are introduced to Felicity and the distillation process at 1881 distillery. After that you’ll get 4 tasters of 1881 gin and even better, a 20cl bottle of 1881 London Dry classic gin to take away and a 10% discount in the shop. Today, the draw is rather different: Shieldgreen now supplies the gleaming copper stills of their very own gin and tonic: 1881 Gin and Tonic 81. Scotland has an abundance of some of the best natural botanicals, so they aim to be as local as possible. They grow lots of Scotland’s natural plants and botanicals down in Peebles, including Scotland’s national flower, the Thistle. All of these are in some way used in each of their hand-crafted gins.

Their Gin School is the largest residential gin school in the UK whereyou’ll find 26 individual copper stills neatly lined in rows and glass jars brimming with botanicals. A tour can be taken around the distillery, in which visitors can learn all about the history of Peebles Hydro, all things gin and can get up close to the school’s copper still (Felicity) which makes up to 220 bottles of 1881 gin every day. Budding distillers can also indulge in their own unique gin distiller experience, in which they can enjoy a distilling class, creating and crafting their very own gin. Surrounded by gin, it’s where they do their best thinking so if you are looking to get creative in a space that nurtures experimental creativity or looking for private dining, drinks reception or even just a private gin school experience.They have created four premium gins including London Dry, Pavilion Pink and Subtly Smoked. The fourth gin, Navy Strength at 57% ABV is stronger than the others at 40%, and is named after the Dutch sailors of the 18th century who were known to drink gin for ‘Dutch courage’ before going into battle.

So what are you waiting for? Book your mini break with breakfast on both days and dinner on the first night. The results have revealed a league table of the best-tasting gins and the winners will be announced at the annual Scottish gin industry event taking part in November. Situated South of Edinburgh in Peebles, the Hydropathic hotel or ‘hydro’ is where 1881 Gin Distillery is based. The hotel was built in 1881, hence the name for the distillery. The hotel was set high above the town and offered therapeutic treatments – the source of which was Peeble Hydro’s very own spring – Shieldgreen. At the peak of the hydropathic movement, it was this water which drew people in from all over the UK for its healing properties. Over 300 guests from the Scottish drinks industry joined to celebrate achievements, which included the announcement of the winner of the top award of the night, Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year 2022.

1881 Gin

Surely the best part of learning about how gin is made is learning about where it comes from and what inspired the distillers to make it in the first place - and on the Isle of Skye, which surely one of the most beautiful parts of the country, it's readily apparent. The 1881 gin has been created by distiller Emma Millar, a graduate from the Brewing & Distilling MsC course at Heriot Watt University, together with Jamie Baxter, who is owner of Craft Distilling Services and who launched his first craft distillery in 2006. Adding to Orkney's already burgeoning brewing and distilling scene, Orkney Distillery, which can be found at Kirkwall, offers the island's first bespoke distilling experience.

Peebles Hydro has turned distiller as it launches a new gin, distillery and school, using water from its own hillside spring water. Four 1881 gins have been included in the new range, with London Dry, Pavilion Pink, Subtly Smoked and the Navy Strength available in two sizes - 70cl and 20cl. In 1881, after three years of construction, Peebles Hydro was built to be a hydropathic hotel due to its very own private spring - Shieldgreen. Affluent city dwellers came far and wide for the hotel’s clean water supply and water-related medical treatments. Many of them wanted to retreat from the city pollution. The waters purity became legendary for ‘alleviating’ a wide range of ailments.The makers of the award-winning Kirkjuvagr Orkney have combined the distillery and shop with a new gin school where people can explore the history of this intriguing producer and its gins before making your own using a unique recipe from the 30 botanicals on offer. Read More Related Articles