Having already made their mark on the local gin scene in Stirling with their Stirling Gin Festival in 2014, which was met with critical acclaim, June and Cameron McCann noticed one thing was missing – a gin from Stirling with local botanicals. This started the wheels in motion and whilst out walking their dog and discussing potential botanicals they realised the answer was literally all around them – the Stirlingshire nettle.
After 6 long months of painstaking research, distilling, experimenting, refining and tasting, they struck gold with a recipe that delivered everything they wanted. In 2015 the first batch of Stirling Gin was distilled, bottled, labelled and ready. In 2018, Stirling Gin acquired and renovated their own premises, ‘The Old Smiddy’ distillery, which is situated under the same towering walls of Stirling Castle. After months of planning and renovating, production officially started in the summer of 2019.
Stirling Gin is the signature gin from Stirling Distillery and features six carefully selected botanicals including juniper, basil, citrus peel, angelica root along with locally foraged nettles. Bold juniper is balanced with green, herbaceous notes of basil and spice, lifted with notes of citrus. The finish provides a lingering, pepper and spice.
Key Botanical(s): Stirlingshire Nettles, Basil, Orange Peel
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: Torn basil, orange peel, tonic and ice.
Stirling Gin Battle Strength Gin uses the signature Stirling Gin recipe but is bottled at the higher 55% ABV. The flavours are amplified with a deeper mouthfeel. Juniper, citrus, spice and herbs are all present creating a complex, balanced flavour profile that provides plenty of bold flavours across the palate and finish.
Key Botanical(s): Stirlingshire Nettle, Basil
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 55% vol
Goes great with: Torn basil, orange peel, tonic and ice.
Stirling Pink Gin is distilled with twelve botanicals including rose petals, pink peppercorn and pink grapefruit. The gin takes its inspiration from one of the many local legends, the ghost of the Pink Lady. The story goes that the Pink Lady died of a broken heart shortly after her true love, a brave Scots knight, died in battle defending Stirling castle in 1304. Her lonely spirit is said to be wandering the Castle and the Kirk Tower in the dead of night in her elegant and distinct pink robes.
Key Botanical(s): Rose Petals, Pink Peppercorn, Pink Grapefruit
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 40% vol
Goes great with: A slice of pink grapefruit, tonic and ice.
Stirling Winter Gin is a seasonal, limited edition gin that combines an infusion of apples from the founder's garden along with allspice, cinnamon, ginger, orange peel, milk thistle and rhubarb root. A festive flavour profile reminiscent of an apple strudel with fresh and tasty apple notes layer with gentle, warming, aromatic, sweet spices. The milk thistle adds a slightly creamy mouthfeel, and rhubarb root adds a subtle tart, fruit note on the warming finish. Bottled at 46% ABV, the gin is balanced and full of winter warming, festive flavours. The bottle is adorned with the Wolfs of Stirling, who were said to have howled when Viking raiders approached the city, alerting the townspeople that danger was close.
Key Botanical(s): Apple, Cinnamon, Ginger
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 46% ABV
Goes great with: Torn basil, orange peel, tonic and ice.
Created in recognition of the UK’s police forces 200 plus year service, 20% of the profits from sales of Gin Blue Line are donated to police charities supporting serving and retired police officers. Gin Blue Line features a range of botanicals including forget-me-nots, Scottish heather, sage and kaffir lime leaves along with a number of classic gin botanicals. The flavour profile encompasses citrus, floral, sweet and spice.
Key Botanical(s): Forget Me Not Petals, Sage, Kaffir Lime
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A wedge of lime, tonic and ice.
The Stirling Distillery is housed in what was locally known as the ‘Old Smiddy’, just a short walk from the historic Stirling Castle. The new distillery has been sympathetically fitted out to accommodate some of the modern workings of a distillery without compromising on the character of the old building. The distillery features a shop area and distillery, along with a tasting area where tours, tastings and the gin school are held. With a variety of Scottish Gin experiences available and a number of Scottish spirits related events including whisky tastings, the new distillery has put the spirit of Scotland back into Stirling.
Tour: Yes
Gin School: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Book a Stirling Distillery experience here
You can learn more about the maker by clicking the links below.
