The story of Brew Dog has been one of innovation, rebellion and sticking two fingers up to the man. What started as two friends, Martin Dickie and James Watt, making beer in their garage and selling at farmer’s markets is today a craft beer phenomenon. In 2017 the Brewdog founders decided the time was right to look at upsetting the world of spirits with the same rebel spirit that inspired the early days of the business.
Brewdog Distilling Co. produces Scottish Gins, Scottish Vodka, Scottish Rum and more under the guidance and direction of Master Distiller Steven Kersley. The distillery mill and mash their grain, ferment their wort and distil their spirit. Everything is done from scratch, which means they are the custodians of the spirit that goes into their drinks at every stage of its creation. The first release was LoneWolf Gin, which was painstakingly distilled and constantly tweaked to perfection over 192 different gin distillations.
LoneWolf Original Juniper Gin is a juniper forward classic London Dry gin layered with balanced notes of citrus, earth and spice. Botanicals include juniper, lemongrass and Kaffir lime leaf providing a zest-filled start gives way to delicate spice notes from the coriander, pink peppercorns and mace. Lavender provides a delicate floral sweetness and Scots pine needles help to embed the juniper backbone throughout the flavour profile.
Key Botanical(s): Coriander Seeds, Pink Peppercorn, Thai Lemon Grass, Mace, Almond
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 44% vol
Goes great with: Tonic and ice.
The classic LoneWolf London Dry gin is given an extra layer of citrus and fragrance in this LoneWolf Cactus & Lime Gin. A classic Juniper backbone is layered with lime and topped up with the juice from pressed cactus and Queen of The Night, an elusive and fragrant cactus flower that only blooms at night. Spiky and bold notes of lime citrus with sweet, fruit bursts of watermelon and lychee from the cactus and flower elements of the recipe.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Lime, Cactus Plant, Queen of The Night Cactus Flower
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A wedge of lime, tonic and ice.
Fresh Sicilian lemon peel is macerated for seven days in the signature LoveWolf Gin before being bottled. The resulting gin retains the classic juniper backbone of LoneWolf Gin whilst taking on the zest of the lemons to create a sharp, citrus burst and a visible yellow lemon haze.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Sicilian Lemon Peel, Lavender
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A slice of lemon, tonic and ice.
Signature LoneWolf Gin is infused with juicy, fresh white peach, sweet bright passionfruit and a hint of yuzu delivering a sweet, warming citrus. Botanicals include Scots Pine, Tuscan Juniper, Grapefruit and Lemon Peel, Pink Peppercorn, Orris and Angelica Root, Mace, Yuzu, Lemongrass, Kaffir Lime, Almonds, Coriander, Lavendar, Cardamom, Passionfruit and White Peach.
Key Botanical(s): Peach, Passion Fruit, Yuzu
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A wedge of orange, tonic and ice.
A first wave of oriental spice hits the palate from the pink, black and Szechuan peppercorns, closely followed and balanced by sweet citrus notes drawn from the peel of Paraguayan bitter oranges, Sicilian lemons and Mexican pink grapefruits, finished off with an all-out star anise assault.
Key Botanical(s): Bitter Orange Peel, Green Cardamom, Lavender, Star Anise, Szechuan Peppercorn
Gin Style: Navy Strength
Strength: 57% vol
Goes great with: Tonic and ice.
Distilled using the bespoke triple-bubble copper still, the only one of its kind in existence, providing maximum copper contact for the spirit. This juniper forward gin is made using Brewdog Distilling Co.’s very own base spirit, which is distilled on-site at the distillery making this a true grain to glass gin. The flavour profile features juniper, citrus, pepper and spice and is bottled at 44% ABV.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, All Spice, Lemon Peel, Lime Peel
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 44% vol
Goes great with: Tonic and ice.
The original BrewDog Distillery was located in the same building as the brewery before eventually moving to its purpose built distillery building on-site at the Brewdog Brewery in Ellon. The distillery is equipped with a variety of stills and equipment so that the distillery can produce any number of spirits from scratch. A combination of wheat, barley, fresh water and the distillery’s special yeast are combined and distilled through a one of its kind three-headed bubble still, along with what is believed to be the UK’s tallest reflux column coming in at just shy of 60ft tall, to produce the base alcohol spirit that’s used in several products produced at the distillery.
Tour: Yes
Cafe: Yes
Bar: Yes
Booking: Book a brewery and distillery tour here
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