Based in the heart of whisky country, distilling was in the blood of the El:gin founders. El:gin was established in early 2015 and following months of trials, the first gin was launched in May 2016. It was important for the founders that the gin was truly local and emulate the majestic Moray countryside, so it goes without saying that distillation and bottling takes place in a small distillery located within the tranquil grounds of a local estate. The small team, all locally raised, have selected hand picked botanicals which they feel represent their surrounding area to produce El:gin.
El:gin has a distinctive smooth creaminess coming from its unique distillation with Scottish oats and a subtle sweetness from locally grown berries. Producing from the smallest still in the area, the distiller works with the direct-fire 80 litre copper pot still to guide the distillation through resulting in a truly unique gin.
Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert made with raspberries and oats, which are two of the key ingredients in this small batch Scottish Gin. This gin is described as fresh and crisp with a smooth and creamy texture. Each batch is created using a traditional copper pot still over direct heat where the distiller uses tasting and nosing to perfect the batch, which means each batch is truly crafted and unique.
Key Botanical(s): Raspberries, Oats
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: Fresh raspberries, tonic and ice.
Speyside Heather Honey Gin is expertly infused with a range of botanicals and locally grown raspberries, strawberries, apples and Scottish oats blended together with Speyside Heather Honey.
Key Botanical(s): Raspberries, Oats, Honey
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A slice of lemon, Sicilian lemonade and ice.
A limited edition gin, El:Gin Cherry Gin was created to mark the 200th anniversary of Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin. The recipe was inspired by the rows of Cherry Blossom trees that line the entrance to the hospital. Distilled using the signature El:gin Scottish Gin base, the recipe also includes the use of cherries to create a sweet, fruit infused gin that’s fresh and fruity on the nose and bristles with juniper and cherries on the taste.
Key Botanical(s): Cherries, Oats, Honey
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A few fresh cherries, tonic and ice.
A limited edition gin, El:Gin Gin-gle Gin was created as a Christmas tipple to be enjoyed over the festive period. Classic El:gin gin is infused with warming festive spices and seasonal fruits to create a gin that has notes of juniper, citrus, ginger, cinnamon, sultanas and oranges. A flavour profile that’s rich, warm and delicious.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Cinnamon, Dried Fruits
Gin Style: Distilled
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A slice of orange, tonic and ice.
A limited edition citrus gin dedicated entirely to 2020: A Year to Remember. Originally intended to be released in Spring 2020, the fast changing times delayed things and so this new special edition gin is dedicated to the crazy times we currently find ourselves in. This is a citrus gin first and foremost, distilled using orange and pineapple, along with traditional gin botanicals like juniper and cardamom. The well balanced mix of botanicals makes this a refreshing gin with citrus flavour, sweet notes and subtle spice.
Key Botanical(s): Orange, Pineapple, Cardamom
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A wedge of orange, tonic and ice.
Tucked away on a private estate on the outskirts of Elgin, you’ll find the El:gin Distillery. Housed in a purpose built outbuilding, the distillery houses two traditional fired copper pot emblematic stills used to create the various El:gin gin expressions, El:gin gin based liqueurs and a new El:gin vodka. The estate is also home to some of the fruit and botanicals used by the team at El:gin along with an on-site source of fresh water from a local spring. Company is never in short supply as you’re greeted by the estate’s local inhabitants including red squirrels, red deer, a pony, a shetland pony and a donkey!
Tour: No
Shop: No
Booking: Not open to the public
You can learn more about the maker by clicking the links below.
