Glasgow was once home to hundreds of distilleries until the Depression and Prohibition led to their closure. As the first distillery in Glasgow for 100 years, The Glasgow Distillery Company is creating a new chapter in the city’s history of producing and distilling spirits.
Founded in 2014 and drawing on the pioneering spirit of Scotland’s first licensed distillers, The Glasgow Distillery Company takes its name from one of Glasgow’s original distilleries. Founded at Dundashill in 1770, the distillery was known, for a time, as The Glasgow Distillery Company and remained active until the beginning of the 20th Century.
On-going investment in facilities, technology and people has enabled The Glasgow Distillery Company to create a number of award winning premium brands, including Makar Gin.
Makar Original Gin is the first gin to be distilled in the city of Glasgow. Embracing the characteristics of the city itself, Makar is a bold and vibrant gin that derives its name from the ancient Scots word for ‘the maker’. Seven sides to Makar’s bottle represents the number of carefully selected botanicals, which perfectly complement the finest Juniper. These botanicals are distilled in small batches in their copper still, Annie, to produce a perfectly-balanced juniper-led gin.
Key Botanical(s): Rosemary, Cassia Bark, Angelica Root
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A slice of mild green chilli, tonic and ice.
Makar Cherry Gin is created by infusing ripe, seasonal fresh cherries and a sprinkling of pink peppercorn in Makar’s Original Dry Gin, before being pressed to release maximum flavour. Makar Cherry Gin balances the traditional bold juniper-forward notes that Makar is well known for, with delicious richness from the ripe cherries, accompanied by a hint of subtle spice from the pink peppercorns on the finish.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Cherries, Pink Peppercorns
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 40%
Goes great with: A cherry garnish, tonic and ice.
Makar Cask Matured Mulberry Aged Gin adds another layer of complexity and uniqueness to the award-winning Makar Original Dry Gin by adding 10 weeks of ageing in bespoke made 50L virgin mulberry wood casks. The result is an incredibly smooth and soft gin, pale to the eye, slightly woody on the nose and sweet on the palette. Mulberry Wood adds a hint of lemon, thyme and vanilla and a peppery finish.
Key Botanical(s): Rosemary, Cassia Bark, Angelica Root
Gin Style: Cask Aged
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A wedge of lime, ginger ale and ice.
Makar Oak Aged Gin is an award-winning cask matured variant of Makar Original Gin. Matured in tailor made virgin oak wood casks over 10 weeks, Makar Oak Aged Gin has incredible colour, flavour and a unique smoothness derived from its maturation process. Maturation adds another layer of complexity to an already complex and bold spirit giving a delicious marriage of vibrant, juniper-led gin with smoky notes from new European Oak. Soft on the nose, complex and lively on the tongue, with a peppery finish.
Key Botanical(s): Black Pepper, Cassia Bark, Angelica Root
Gin Style: Cask Aged
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A wedge of lime, ginger beer and ice.
Makar Old Tom Gin is the reinvention of a traditional classic. Old Tom recreates a sweeter style of gin, which in recent times has enjoyed a renaissance after falling out of favour with the gin elite. Complementing the bold juniper of Makar Original Gin, Old Tom infuses orange peel, almonds and a small injection of honey into its distilling process. The result is an exceptionally well balanced, complex and rewarding Old Tom Gin, sweeter on the palate than the popular London dry style.
Key Botanical(s): Almonds, Orange Peel, Angelica Root
Gin Style: Old Tom
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A lemon wheel, lemon juice, sugar, soda water and ice (an Old Tom Collins).
The Glasgow Distillery Company, the first distillery in Glasgow for over 100 years, is located close to the River Clyde, which was once the heartbeat of Glasgow’s industrial heartland. The distillery now houses five copper stills, but Annie is ultimately responsible for production of Makar Glasgow Gin. The distillery produces a range of spirits including gin, whisky and vodka. A true working distillery, the building is abuzz with activity as the team of distillers continue to make and develop a range of award-winning spirits.
Tour: Yes
Booking: To book a joint Glasgow Distillery & Tennant's Brewery tour, visit the Glasgow Distillery website here
You can learn more about the maker by clicking the links below.
