Ever wondered about the process involved in making your favourite gin?
From 23rd March, Edinburgh-based distillery, The Old Curiosity, is offering fans the opportunity to see the gin-making process for themselves, with the launch of its Gin Garden Tours.
Based at the Secret Herb Garden at the foot of the Pentland Hills, the unique tours allow visitors to walk around the UK’s first and only pure working gin botanical garden. Gin enthusiasts can experience the tranquillity of the garden; see, smell and touch the growing botanicals; visit the drying room; witness the still in action and finally, enjoy a glass of the good stuff from the comfort of the cosy new Gin Lounge.
Experience a Working Gin Garden
Curated by The Old Curiosity founder and renowned Scottish herbologist, Hamish Martin, the new tours encapsulate his passion and knowledge. Visitors are shown the full process, from hand-picking and drying the flowers to the entire distillation process. The tour concludes with a tasting of the Secret Garden Range and learning about the curious and delicious gins and their fascinating colour-changing qualities.
Hamish comments: “This is an entirely unique offering. Nowhere else in the world has a gin garden and distillery on site as we do here. We’re incredibly proud to say that we grow and pick our own botanicals before drying and distilling them to perfection, to obtain that distinctive natural flavour and unbelievable colour change. It’s incredible to see nature in action!
“Everything we do here is done with love, and we’re excited to welcome gin lovers (or those ready to be converted!) to see the magic of nature and witness how we use it to create these special gins. We hope people are blown away by what they see, smell, taste and learn on these tours.”
With over 1000 juniper bushes, 500 herbs and floral varieties such as scented lemon verbena, geraniums, irises and roses, the Gin Garden is a special tribute to Mother Nature and a feast for the senses.
Tours Availability and Pricing
Tours are available from 23 March, every Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. From 1 June – 21 September, a tour will also be available at 1pm on a Thursday and Friday. Tickets are available from The Old Curiosity website and cost £15 per person, which includes a full tour of the garden, drying room and distillery, and a tasting of the Secret Garden Range in the Gin Lounge.
The Secret Garden Range currently includes Apothecary Rose; Lavender & Echinacea and Chamomile and Cornflower. All three offer subtle and elegant flavours and change colour when tonic is added. Two new gins are being introduced to the range in 2019. The Old Curiosity Distillery can be found at the Secret Herb Garden on the Old Pentland Road, Edinburgh.
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