Life would be boring without the occasional adventure. Living on a remote Scottish Island that can only be accessed by ferry when the weather is favourable, has one road, a population of 200 people and over 6000 deer sounds like an adventure is never far away.
In 2015 with mother nature’s botanical larder readily available on the island, three friends Alicia Macinnes, Claire Fletcher and Georgina Kitching decided they wanted to share a new adventure together. With their own individual skills and backgrounds, they decided to set-up a distillery in Ardlussa on the island of Jura. Encouraged by their shared love of Jura and supported by the local community, the distillery was opened and ‘Jim’ the traditional Portuguese, handcrafted copper still was fired up and Lussa Gin was born.
Lussa Gin is an expression of the landscape on the Isle of Jura off Scotland’s wild west coast. For the three women behind Lussa Gin that means growing, gathering and distilling 15 local botanicals. They say location is everything, and luckily for them, the distillery is slap bang in the middle of a number of botanicals that grow on the island. There are just over two hundred people on the island. The terrain can be tough going and the weather unforgiving, but that’s why it’s an adventure. You could say it’s a labour of Lussa.
Key Botanical(s): Sea Lettuce, Scots Pine, Water Mint
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 42% vol
Goes great with: A slice of lemon, sprig of rosemary, tonic and ice.
A visit to the Lussa Gin Distillery is a true Scottish Gin adventure. Once you depart from the ferry, you’ll drive 25 miles along a single track road to reach the distillery, which is located in Ardlussa at the north end of the Isle of Jura. The distillery can be found in a converted stable block that is home to Hamish, the Lussa Gin still.
Tour: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Monday to Friday at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Must be booked in advance. For availability call 01496 820196 or email tours@lussagin.com.
You can learn more about the maker by clicking the links below.
