1881 Distillery

Peebles, Scottish Borders, Scotland
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Named after the year the construction of Peebles Hydro Hotel was completed, the 1881 Distillery and Gin School officially opened its distillery doors in October 2019. The idea for this came about after the current owners, Crieff Hydro, who own and operate several hotels and hospitality venues, had seen a growth in the number of Scottish Gins behind the bars and restaurants at their various venues.

Having taken over the Peebles Hydro Hotel in 2014, the owners saw the opportunity to launch a new Scottish Gin brand that could draw on the hotel’s rich and varied history and provide unique inspiration for the 1881 range of Scottish Gins and spirits. Their experience and industry insight also taught them the importance of creating memorable guest experiences. With more distilleries offering visitor experiences, they knew that a distillery and a gin school in the hotel would provide something unique, enjoyable and memorable.

The 1881 distillery uses water from The Shieldgreen Spring, connecting the past to the present. The original hotel offered a variety of water therapies when it opened in 1881, with guests visiting from around the world to try and alleviate their aches and woes thanks to the claimed healing powers of hydrotherapy treatments. The Shieldgreen Spring, a mineral rich spring that runs through the hotel’s grounds, was the primary water source for all the hydrotherapy treatments offered. Other activities at the time included tennis, shooting, croquet and cycling. 

From a dramatic fire in 1905 and the construction of a new hotel completed in 1907 or supporting the war effort in World War Two, the hotel has a rich and varied history, providing plenty of inspiration for the 1881 range of Scottish Gins and spirits.

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1881 Hydro London Dry Gin

The 1881 Hydro London Dry Gin name and the recipe were inspired by the original Peebles Hydro Hotel, which offered a variety of hydrotherapy treatments, thanks to The Shieldgreen Spring, which runs through the hotel's land, providing fresh, clean, mineral-rich water. The Shieldgreen Spring is still used to this day as the primary water source for the 1881 range of Scottish Gins.

1881 Hydro London Dry Gin uses twelve botanicals in its distillation, with several grown in the Peebles Hydro Hotel's botanical garden. Some of the botanicals in 1881 Hydro London Dry Gin include juniper, hawthorn, birch, fir needles, bay leaf, cardamom, and various citrus peels. Juniper, citrus, and aromatic cardamom notes come across on the nose. The palate delivers a decent wave of piney juniper that transitions through spice and citrus notes. The long, lingering finish features citrus, green herbaceous, earthy notes and subtle warming spice.

Details

Key Botanical(s): Hawthorn, Fir Needles, Bay Leaf
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 40% ABV
Goes great with: A wedge of grapefruit, tonic and ice.

Production

Method: Rectification of Grain Neutral Spirit
Location: 1881 Distillery, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Released: August 2019

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1881 Peebles Pink Pavilion Gin

The 1881 Peebles Pink Pavilion Gin takes its name and inspiration from the original Peebles Hydro Hotel’s Victorian pavilion. The pavilion once overlooked more tennis courts than Wimbledon, with the hotel hosting several tennis competitions and providing a recreational escape for guests.

1881 Peebles Pink Pavilion Gin uses a traditional selection of gin botanicals, including juniper, orris root, grains of paradise and more, to create a classic gin backbone with the addition of raspberries and hibiscus petals completed with fresh spring water from The Shieldgreen Spring.

Red fruits and some aromatic spice with subtle floral notes come across on the nose. The palate starts with bright, fresh raspberries balanced with floral hibiscus notes before moving through a warming, slightly aromatic spice note from cardamom and grains of paradise. The medium finish develops from a creamy fruit mouthfeel, transitioning to citrus and some pine, leaving a pleasant mouthfeel and finish.

Details

Key Botanical(s): Raspberries, Hibiscus Petals
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 40% ABV
Goes great with: A few fresh raspberries, a sprig of mint, tonic and ice.

Production

Method: Rectified Grain Neutral Spirit
Location: 1881 Distillery, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Released: August 2019

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1881 Honours Navy Strength Gin

1881 Honours Navy Strength Gin uses twelve botanicals in its distillation; some include juniper, pink grapefruit and hawthorn berries, bottled at 57% ABV.

Piney juniper, bright, rich citrus grapefruit, and some spice come across on the nose. The palate begins with a big juniper note of fresh pine that develops into warming spice and balanced citrus. The long, lingering, warming finish features robust citrus and spice. Even at this higher ABV, the 1881 Honours Navy Strength Gin remains carefully balanced, with amplified flavours and a pleasant mouthfeel, even when drunk neat over ice.

During World War 2, the Peebles Hydro Hotel became a military hospital. This time in the hotel's history inspired the creation of the 1881 Honours Navy Strength Gin.

Details

Key Botanical(s): Pink Grapefruit, Milk Thistle, Cardamon
Gin Style: Navy Strength
Strength: 57% ABV
Goes great with: A slice of orange, tonic and ice.

Production

Method: Rectified Grain Neutral Spirit
Location: 1881 Distillery, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Released: August 2019

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1881 Rafters Subtly Smoked Gin

In the summer of 1905, a spark from a chimney landed in the roof space of the Peebles Hydro Hotel, causing an inferno that engulfed the original hotel, leaving nothing but some brickwork and ashes. Thankfully, due to the resolve of the owner and staff, the hotel was rebuilt in its current form and reopened its doors to guests in 1907. 1881 Distillery's Rafters Subtly Smoked Gin is a nod to this moment in the hotel's history.

Signature 1881 Hydro London Dry Gin is infused with the smoke from fired oak chips, with the smoke being slowly drawn through a water bath to create a smoked liquid used in the distillation. The botanicals and original flavour profile of the 1881 Hydro London Dry Gin can be found but underlined in this expression with a subtle smokey note on the nose and palate. The smoke element also helps add an extra layer of flavour to some of the spice elements in the gin.

The unique smoke element can also help elevate classic cocktails that feature gin in the recipe. 1881 Distillery's Rafters Subtly Smoked Gin works well in the Negroni and the Martinez, adding further complexity and flavour to these classic cocktails.

Details

Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Pink Grapefruit, Smoked Oak Chips
Gin Style: Distilled
Strength: 40% ABV
Goes great with: A wedge of lime, tonic and ice.

Production

Method: Rectified Grain Neutral Spirit and post-distillation infusion.
Location: 1881 Distillery, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Released: August 2019

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1881 Garden Blossom Honey Gin

1881 Garden Blossom Honey Gin is a seasonal, limited edition release Old Tom Gin. Old Tom gins are traditionally slightly sweetened with either sugar or honey. For the 1881 Garden Blossom Honey Gin, the 1881 team worked closely with the Scottish Bee Company, sourcing the finest Scottish blossom honey.

1881 Garden Blossom Honey Gin features fourteen botanicals, including chilli, lime, lemon, orange, hibiscus and Scottish blossom honey. Floral and citrus notes come across on the nose, along with subtle vanilla notes. The palate is complex with aromatic spices, lovely bright citrus, and a subtly sweet note throughout. The medium finish is full of life with spiced, candied citrus fruits and a warming spice.

The inspiration for the 1881 Garden Blossom Honey Gin and the recipe came from the former greenhouses and conservatories at Peebles Hydro Hotel. The greenhouses once grew oranges, lemons, limes and other tropical plants and vegetables.

Awards for 1881 Garden Blossom Honey Gin include The Gin Cooperative Awards 2022;

• Bronze Award - Old Tom Scottish Gin Award

Details

Key Botanical(s): Chilli, Scottish Honey, Hibiscus
Gin Style: Old Tom
Strength: 40% ABV
Goes great with: A wedge of lime, sliced chilli, tonic and ice.

Production

Method: Rectified Grain Neutral Spirit
Location: 1881 Distillery, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Released: November 2022

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1881 Hydro Garden Gin

1881 Hydro Garden Gin is a limited edition release of only 200 bottles and uses a variety of locally foraged botanicals. Gorse flowers, elderflower and rose from the hotels gardens and surrounding countryside have been carefully distilled to create a taste of Pebble’s summer. Combining classic gin botanicals and local botanicals 1881 Hydro Garden Gin has distinct light florals on the nose, with some subtle coconut from the gorse flowers. The palate replicates the nose with deeper floral notes across the palate, including vanilla and coconut, balanced with some earthy notes. The medium finish has further floral notes balanced with some citrus and a warming, sweet floral spice.

Details

Key Botanical(s): Gorse Flowers, Elderflower, Rose Petals
Gin Style: Distilled
Strength: 40% ABV
Goes great with: A few fresh raspberries, tonic and ice.

Production

Method: Rectified Grain Neutral Spirit
Location: 1881 Distillery, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Released: June 2021

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1881 Tiffin Eastern Spiced Gin

This special edition gin was crafted by head distiller Dean McDonald, who was looking to create a gin that would prepare the palate for the boldly aromatic flavours associated with Indian cuisine. Rich and spicy cumin, cardamom and kaffir lime leaf play together particularly well with a bitter lemon or ginger ale mixer to tickle the taste buds.

Details

Key Botanical(s): Cumin, Cardamom, Kaffir Lime Leaf
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 45% ABV
Goes great with: Ginger ale and ice.

Production

Method: Rectified Grain Neutral Spirit
Location: 1881 Distillery, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Released: October 2020

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1881 Winter Gin

1881 Winter Gin is a limited edition release and features a number of festive inspired botanicals including ginger, cinnamon, orange peel and fir needles along with a number of classic gin botanicals. On the nose are notes of Christmas and winter, with rich aromatic ginger and spice. The palate provides layers of candied fruit, warming spices of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and a fresh pine note. The long, lingering warming finish is full of festive spices.

Details

Key Botanical(s): Ginger, Cinnamon, Fir Needles
Gin Style: Distilled
Strength: 40% ABV
Goes great with: A wedge of orange, ginger ale and ice.

Production

Method: Rectified Grain Neutral Spirit
Location: 1881 Distillery, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Released: December 2021

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Distillery

1881 Distillery

The 1881 Distillery was designed and built with the help of Jamie Baxter, a distillery designer and a renowned distiller in his own right, and is home to a 250-litre Arnold Holstein engineered still called ‘Felicity’. Four core gin recipes were initially developed, along with four bespoke 1881 tonics, created to complement each gin. They were part of the initial launch of the brand and distillery. Since launching the initial core range of Scottish Gins in August 2019, the distillery team have created several new limited edition and seasonal gins to complement the core range.

There are a variety of visitor experiences available at the distillery, including distillery tours, tasting events and the 1881 Distillery Gin School, where visitors can take part in a gin masterclass, picking from an abundance of botanicals and tutored through the distillation process, ultimately creating a bespoke gin you can take home; all the while sampling the 1881 Gin expressions.

Details

Tour: Yes
Gin School: Yes
Cafe: Yes
Bar: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Book an 1881 Distillery experience online here

Address

Peebles Hydro, Innerleithen Road, Peebles, Scottish Borders, Scotland, EH45 8LX - View on Google Maps
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Disclaimer: Where applicable, book your Scottish Gin experience in advance and check with the venue before heading off on your journey.
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