Summerhall Distillery, home to Pickering’s Gin, officially opened its doors in 2014 and was established by long time friends Marcus Pickering and Matthew Gammell. Marcus worked in the hospitality sector for several years, including time as a butler at Skibo Castle, a private members club near Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands, and a tour guide at Glenmorangie Distillery.
From an early age, Marcus was fascinated with how things worked, taking things apart to understand the workings or creating something entirely new from discarded items. Marcus shared these curious, resourceful and creative traits with his business partner, Matthew. Matthew had built a career in engineering, construction and property development and was also passionate about preserving old buildings and converting them sympathetically for modern use.
By 2013, Marcus was the managing director of Summerhall, a vibrant community space focused on the arts. The Summerhall site was originally home to The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, one of the oldest veterinary schools in the world dating back to 1823, and the building at Summerhall dating back to 1916. The school relocated in 2011 to the University of Edinburgh campus and put the original site up for sale. Robert McDowell, a businessman, philanthropist, and former investment banker, purchased the site. He had ambitious plans to turn the former veterinary college into a space for artists, local businesses and a space for the local community. Once refurbished, Summerhall provided facilities and spaces for workshops, exhibitions, live music, events, a pub in the central courtyard, and a brewery. The site was refurbished entirely, with much of the space allocated for use except for the old dog kennels.
Watching the brewery and Summerhall site grow, Marcus thought of starting a distillery. He had been tinkering with a small gin after discovering a gin recipe passed to Marcus’ father by a family friend. The recipe, dated 17 July 1947, would eventually inspire Pickering’s 1947 Gin. Marcus and Matthew discussed the idea of establishing a distillery at Summerhall. Both could bring their unique skills to a distillery, including their creative problem-solving. The first problem was turning a building primarily for housing dogs into a distillery. Marcus and Matthew relished the prospect and, in a short time, had a name for their Scottish Gin brand, Pickering’s Gin. Matthew had drawn up some designs for the distillery, including how to retro-engineer two traditional Portuguese alembic stills to be heated using a hot water supply rather than the conventional gas-fired method. The pairs ethos is that if a solution didn’t exist, they would invent it. This approach to challenges came in handy when the first batch of Pickering’s Gin was about to be bottled when the label machine broke. With some quick thinking, Marcus and Matthew took the parts from an old sewing machine. They fashioned a crude but effective labelling machine named Mabel.
Since Summerhall Distillery opened its doors in 2014, Marcus and Matthew and the Summerhall Distillery team have launched several Scottish Gins that blend elements of Edinburgh’s past and present along with Marcus and Matthews’s own experiences and stories covering a variety of gin styles including Cask Aged Scottish Gins and Flavoured Scottish Gins. They launched the world’s first Gin Baubles in 2017, with demand crashing the website and saw the distillery team working around the clock to fulfil orders after their Pickering’s Christmas Gin Baubles appeared on a popular daytime show in America. There was a unique series of gins for the luxury cruise liner Cunard and four very special ships – the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Anne. Marcus’ great-uncle was a captain of Cunard White Star liners for most of his adult life, so this project proved especially poignant.
Brussel Sprout Gin, The Marvellous Martini Mixing Gramophone, Pickering’s Gin Pop Up Cocktail Bar in a Suitcase, the Japanese Negroni Fire Engine and more are just some of the creative Scottish Gin endeavours that have helped Summerhall Distillery and its range of Pickering’s Gin earn it’s reputation as a Scottish distillery that doesn’t follow trends, instead putting the focus on crafting spirits that are symbols of Marcus and Matthews entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and showcase what can be achieved when two business partners don’t follow the rule book.
Pickering’s Gin, sometimes referred to as the 'Red Top Gin' due to its distinct red wax seal, from Summerhall Distillery is their signature Scottish Gin. The distillation features eight botanicals including angelica root, anise, cardamom, cloves, fennel, juniper, and lemon peel. On the nose, bright and fresh with classic piney notes complemented by hints of citrus and sweet spices. There’s a subtle floral note tempered with earthy, herbaceous elements. On the palate, a traditional and classic juniper-forward flavour unfolds through layers of spice, with a gentle, refreshing liquorice freshness and citrus notes. On the finish, lingering notes of spice with clove and cardamom evident transitions sweeter, softer spices with citrus not appearing leaving a clean, fresh and drying finish.
Key Botanical(s): Cloves, Fennel, Juniper
Gin Style: London Dry Scottish Gin
Strength: 42% ABV
Goes great with: A slice of pink grapefruit, tonic and ice.
Pickering's Original 1947 Gin, sometimes referred to as the 'Orange Top Gin' due to its distinct orange wax seal, from Summerhall Distillery takes inspiration from a recipe initially written by hand in Mount Mary, Bombay, in 1947. A friend of the Pickering family, Gopal, was stationed in India during the era of The British Raj. Gopal passed the recipe to the father of Pickering's Gin co-founder Marcus. It remained in Marcuse's father's house for decades before being discovered in a box of old papers. The recipe features nine botanicals, including angelica root, anise, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, juniper, and lemon peel. On the nose are rich, bold, and distinct aromatic spices. On the palate, piney juniper opens up to bold spices balanced with citrus and earthy notes. On the finish, long, lingering and warming spices. The flavours are complex but balanced, resulting in a flavour profile that features piney juniper but layered with aromas and flavours of an exotic Indian summer evening. As for the original recipe? If you visit Summerhall Distillery, you'll discover the original recipe, framed and in pride of place on the wall.
Key Botanical(s): Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves
Gin Style: London Dry Scottish Gin
Strength: 42% ABV
Goes great with: A wedge of orange, tonic and ice.
Pickering’s Navy Strength Gin from Summerhall Distillery was released in 2014 after the Pickering’s Gin brand became the official gin sponsor of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Held in front of Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands. The term tattoo originates from the Dutch term “doe den tap toe”, translated as “turn off the taps”. Each night, the Corps of Drums would play to signal to tavern owners to turn off the taps of their ale kegs so soldiers would know it was time to leave the premises and return to their lodgings. Pickering’s Navy Strength features nine botanicals in its recipe, including angelica root, cardamom, cloves, coriander, fennel, juniper, lemongrass, lime peel and orris root. Bottled at 57.1% ABV, the higher strength helps amplify the classic gin aromas and flavours. On the nose, citrus, floral and spice notes. On the palate, rich, oily juniper blends with vibrant citrus tempered with peppery warming spice and a slightly nutty note with a clean, dry, lingering finish with hints of piney juniper and rich aromatic spices. Pickering’s Navy Strength Gin is adorned with a miniature ‘Bearskin Hat’ originally worn by grenadier units in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is still worn today by select military units that feature the hat as part of their ceremonial and dress uniforms.
Key Botanical(s): Cardamom, Cloves, Juniper
Gin Style: Navy Strength Scottish Gin
Strength: 57.1% ABV
Goes great with: A wedge of orange, tonic and ice or neat over ice.
Pickering’s Scottish Botanicals Gin from Summerhall Distillery was initially released in 2017 and was the official gin of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for that year. Pickering’s Scottish Botanicals, as the name suggests, features fourteen botanicals, including various Scottish foraged botanicals. The Scottish Gin botanicals include bog myrtle, heather flowers, rowan berries, Scots pine needles, and several classic gin botanicals, including angelica root, juniper, and lemon peel. On the nose, crisp juniper blends with floral and faint fruity notes. On the palate, piney, fresh juniper and herbaceous notes are complemented by fresh florals. The rowan berries add gentle tartness, while citrus helps balance, brighten, and elevate the flavours. On the finish, herbal and earthy notes with hints of piney juniper and fresh, sweet florals. The packaging features The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo official tartan.
Key Botanical(s): Milk Thistle, Scots Pine Needles, Scottish Heather
Gin Style: London Dry Scottish Gin
Strength: 42% ABV
Goes great with: Slices of green apple, a fresh Scottish bramble, tonic and ice.
This best-selling festive bauble flavour from Team Pickering's is back and available in its own larger 20cl bottle. Pickering's Gin sourced 10,000 lonely and forgotten Perthshire sprouts in order to make this world's first. While there might be a divide on Brussels Sprouts at Christmas, this gin has a bright, herbaceous taste, with a fresh green pepper twang and nutty sweet notes.
Key Botanical(s): Brussels Sprouts
Gin Style: Flavoured Scottish Gin
Strength: 37.5% ABV
Goes great with: A slice of cucumber, tonic and ice.
The latest Christmas edition to the popular festively flavoured range from Pickering's Gin, Later Than Eight Gin. This limited edition gin is bursting with delicate chocolate notes and a fresh mint finish.
Key Botanical(s): Mint
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: A sprig of mint, tonic and ice.
Inspired by Cunard's three legendary ships and their elegant sophistication, Pickering’s have balanced botanicals emblematic of each Queen’s route today. Intrepid and luxurious, the Queen Elizabeth introduces passengers to the diverse lands of the Far East. A fine balance of 7 botanicals, this exotic dry gin complements her journeys through the orient. 10% of each bottle sold directly from the Pickering’s website or distillery is donated to Cunard's nominated Charity, the Princes Trust.
Key Botanical(s): Lotus Root, Kaffir Lime Leaf, Star Anise, Cardamom
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43.4% vol
Goes great with: Lemongrass, cardamom pods, tonic and ice.
A flagship without compare, the Queen Mary 2 is the most glamorous way to travel across the Atlantic. 10% of each bottle sold directly from the Pickering’s website or distillery is donated to Cunard's nominated Charity, the Princes Trust.
Key Botanical(s): Apple, Cinnamon, Cherry, Raspberry Leaf
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 44.1% vol
Goes great with: Sliced green apple, mint, a raspberry, tonic and ice.
A taste of Queen Victoria’s voyage through the Mediterranean, passengers will embark on a fragrant Mediterranean journey. A rich, savoury gin lifted with citrus botanicals – guaranteed to appeal to the most discerning palate. 10% of each bottle sold directly from the Pickering’s website or distillery is donated to Cunard's nominated Charity, the Princes Trust.
Key Botanical(s): Blood Orange, Lemon Myrtle, Olive Leaf
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 42.2% vol
Goes great with: A lemon twist, rosemary, Mediterranean tonic and ice.
Summerhall Distillery, said to be Edinburgh’s first gin distillery in the city for over 150 years, is located in Summerhall, originally home to the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College. Summerhall has grown to be one of Europe’s leading centres for creative arts housing an international art museum as well as hosting theatre, music and literature events in the building. Summerhall Distillery is located just off the main courtyard and occupies what was the former dog kennels. Bursting with character, the distillery captures the inventive approach of Summerhall Distillery and Pickering’s Gin co-founders Marcus Pickering and Matthew Gammell. The distillery is home to two 500 litre traditional Portuguese alembic stills, named Gertrude and Emily, that have been retro-fitted with water baths that utilise hot water to heat the stills. There’s also another Pickering’s Experience room located beside the distillery thats offers the perfect space for tastings and features a visual guide to the history of Pickering’s Gin including some of the wild and off the wall inventions that have played a part in the story of Pickering’s Gin.
Tour: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Learn more about Summerhall Distillery experiences here
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