Established in 2013, Summerhall Distillery, Edinburgh’s first exclusive gin distillery in over 150 years, is housed on the site of an old animal hospital and veterinary school known locally as the Dick Vet. It’s now an arts venue called Summerhall with a pub and the distillery next door.
Pickering’s Gin was lovingly created by its founders, Marcus Pickering and Matthew Gammell. Business partners for 12 years. Friends for even longer. Their ethos? If you can’t find what you want, make it yourself. Marcus’s interest in gin came from his time working at Skibo Castle, perfecting cocktails and leading tours around the local distilleries. Matthew was responsible for transforming the old animal hospital dog kennels into a fully operational distillery, armed with his engineering degree and experience in the property renovation and construction sector.
Pickering's Gin is based on an old Bombay recipe, handwritten on a fragment of paper dated 17 July 1947. Kept as a family secret for over 66 years, it resurfaced in 2013 when they began distilling at Summerhall. The team fine-tuned the recipe, perfecting its balance of botanicals and tweaking it to the contemporary palate. The result is a spectacularly smooth, refreshing and flavoursome gin - fresh, light and bold flavours of citrus and juniper give way to intense warming spice of cardamom, coriander seed and clove.
Key Botanical(s): Cardamom, Coriander Seed, Clove
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 42% vol
Goes great with: A slice of pink grapefruit, tonic and ice.
This edition is made precisely to the original recipe, as it was written down in Mount Mary, Bombay, in 1947. Here the botanical mix includes cinnamon, which adds a decidedly warming and spicy kick to the spirit. Spicier, sweeter and more intense, it’s a decadent trip back to the last days of the Raj. Cardamom, coriander, clove and cinnamon spice lead to a crisp, refreshing and long finish.
Key Botanical(s): Cardamom, Coriander, Clove, Cinnamon
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 42% vol
Goes great with: A wedge of orange, tonic and ice.
In 2014, Pickering’s became official gin sponsor of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. To mark the occasion they released a Naval Strength edition, affectionately known as the ‘Bearskin Gin’. Bottled at 57.1% ABV, the spirit is smooth, clean and powerful. Initial juniper and aromatic spice flavours lead to a delicious sweetness. Each bottle of gin comes with a bearskin hat and a commemorative neck tag.
Key Botanical(s): Cardamom, Coriander Seed, Clove
Gin Style: Navy Strength
Strength: 57.1% vol
Goes great with: Neat over ice.
This gin was originally released in 2017 as the official gin of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. True to form, it bears the the official Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo tartan, which celebrates the entwined colours of the Armed Forces. The gin is distilled with four indigenous Scottish botanicals - heather, milk thistle, bog myrtle and Scots Pine, which lend sweet, earthy and floral notes to the characterful Bombay recipe, for a spectacularly smooth and stirring spirit.
Key Botanical(s): Scottish Heather, Milk Thistle, Bog Myrtle, Scots Pine
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 42% vol
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 Sprout
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: Slice of cucumber, tonic and ice.
The latest Christmas edition to the popular festively flavoured range from Pickering's Gin, Chocolate Orange Gin. This limited edition gin is bursting with delicate chocolate notes and an orange tang.
Key Botanical(s): Orange
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: A twist of orange, 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.
The latest Christmas edition to the popular festively flavoured range from Pickering's Gin, Christmas Cookie Gin. This limited edition gin is bursting with a delightfully sweet hit of vanilla.
Key Botanical(s): Vanilla
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: A twist of orange, tonic and ice.
The latest Christmas edition to the popular festively flavoured range from Pickering's Gin, Pecan Pie Gin. This limited edition gin is bursting with a delightful mix of rich buttery notes and sweet nuttiness.
Key Botanical(s): Pecans
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: A twist of orange, tonic and ice.
Following the huge success of the festive gin flavours, the Pickering’s team surveyed their gin friends and the demand for more flavoured expressions was huge. Introducing Strawberry & Black Pepper Gin, described as decadently sweet and sumptuously fresh, this delightfully moreish naturally coloured and flavoured pink gin is the perfect picnic playmate. The unmistakable berry note on the nose leads to a vibrant strawberry taste on the palate and a spicy kick of black pepper on the finish.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Strawberries, Black Pepper
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: Slices of fresh strawberry, a crack of black pepper, tonic and ice.
Following the huge success of the festive gin flavours, the Pickering’s team surveyed their gin friends and the demand for more flavoured expressions was huge. Introducing Blood Orange & Caraway Gin, described as having a vibrant citrus top note that leads way to aromatic caraway seeds, bringing a mild peppery note to the palate. The finish is long and sweet, with subtle fennel intermingling beautifully with the subtle sweetness of ripe blood orange peel.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Blood Orange, Caraway
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: A slice of orange, tonic and ice. Or in a Negroni cocktail.
Originally a special Valentine’s Day release, this edition has been made available as part of the new flavoured Pickering’s Gin range. Using real flower petals, which have been dried and distilled together with heather, lemon myrtle and other signature Pickering's Gin Bombay botanicals, the gin is described as having fragrant coriander, anise and fennel dance over the palate for signature Bombay character. Lemon myrtle adds a soft sweet citrus reminiscent of sherbet lemon and retro icing-sugar coated travel sweets.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Heather, Lemon Myrtle
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: Lemon twist, tonic and ice.
Following the huge success of the festive gin flavours, the Pickering’s team surveyed their gin friends and the demand for more flavoured expressions was huge. Introducing Lemon & Basil Gin, described as having an initial lemon zing on the palate, which leads to a delightfully savoury and herbaceous finish with hints of lemon sherbet sweets and limoncello liqueur.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Lemon, Basil
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: A slice of fresh lemon, a fresh basil leaf, tonic and ice. Or in a Martini cocktail.
The well known autumnal and festive coffee treat, the Pumpkin Spice Latte has been reinvented as a Scottish Gin by Pickering’s Gin; famous for their unique and quirky flavour combinations. Based on the original Pickering’s 1947 Gin recipe, the twist comes from a balance of spices, sweet vanilla and the bitterness of the coffee, made in collaboration with local Edinburgh coffee shop brew! And Forth Coffee Roasters.
Key Botanical(s): Cinnamon, Vanilla, Coffee
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: A wedge of orange, tonic and ice.
Pickering’s Gin teamed up with independent Scottish florists MUD Urban Flowers for Mother’s Day to create a gin and bouquet bundle, which included their new Heather & Honey gin plus a beautiful dried flower bouquet… lasting up to 3 years if cared for. The distillery team were inspired to experiment with some of the florist’s fresh and dried flowers, with heather, lavender and rosehip ultimately making it into the final recipe, plus Scottish honey. The gin and bundle are available exclusively on their website.
Key Botanical(s): Heather, Lavender, Rosehip, Honey
Gin Style: Flavoured
Strength: 37.5% vol
Goes great with: Edible flowers, tonic and ice.
Over half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries can be found in the Speyside region and this is where their Oak Aged whisky casks originate for this limited edition Pickering’s Speyside Oak Aged Gin. On the nose, this gin is fragrant, clean, with hints of anise. Delicately earthy with herbaceous undertones and subtle, piny juniper notes on top. To taste, this gin suggests warm toasted cereal with sweet developing caramel fudge notes. Discreet hints of rich fruitcake with a dry, oaken, malt-extract finish.
Key Botanical(s): Juniper, Anise
Gin Style: Cask Aged
Strength: 47% vol
Goes great with: Neat over ice.
The whisky distilleries from this region – Orkney, Skye, Mull, Arran and Jura – often share a salty, maritime character and this is where Pickering’s Oak Aged whisky casks originate for this limited edition Island Oak Aged Gin. On the nose, this gin suggests slightly charred, warm oak with hints of Acacia honey. Lemon vanilla icing notes float on top with a distinct orange whisky liqueur linger. On the palate light brown sugar nestles underneath a bold, piney juniper hit. Soft, sweet dried apricots and barley sugar notes open up into a long, rounded woody oak finish.
Key Botanical(s): Acacia Honey, Juniper
Gin Style: Cask Aged
Strength: 47% vol
Goes great with: Neat over ice.
This region’s softer landscape is reflected in the lighter colour and character of its whiskies and these Lowlands are where the Oak Aged whisky casks originate for this limited edition Pickering’s Lowland Oak Aged Gin. On the nose, zesty lemons with overtones of creamy vanilla. A burst of tangy citrus to start opening into softer apricot and subtle brown sugar notes. To taste, lusciously complex with sweet woody notes. Light and mellow with a subtle depth of dried dates and fig. Hints of soft honey and malted biscuit on the finish and a well-rounded, warm mouth-feel.
Key Botanical(s): Lemons, Dates, Juniper
Gin Style: Cask Aged
Strength: 47% vol
Goes great with: Neat over ice.
The Highland region covers a vast and diverse area of Scotland. Its whiskies are often full-bodied and powerful and these Highlands are where the Oak Aged whisky casks originate for this limited edition Pickering’s Highland Oak Aged Gin. The aroma, lightly charred, warm oak with hints of Acacia honey. Lemon vanilla icing notes float on top with a distinct orange whisky liqueur linger.
Key Botanical(s): Acacia Honey, Juniper
Gin Style: Cask Aged
Strength: 47% vol
Goes great with: Neat over ice.
The small island of Islay is home to Scotland’s most powerful and peaty whiskies and this is where the Oak Aged whisky casks originate for this limited edition Pickering’s Islay Oak Gin. The aroma is fresh, woody pencil shavings and toasted malt cereal. Slight salt and white pepper heat. Hints of fresh cut grass with gentle peat underneath. The palate, creamy, salted butter and subtle vanilla fudge notes. Slightly oily mouthfeel followed by gentle, sweet bonfire smoke. Cheeky undertones of lemon citrus leaning into mild pepper heat on the finish.
Key Botanical(s): Lemon, Juniper
Gin Style: Cask Aged
Strength: 47% vol
Goes great with: Neat over 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, Edinburgh’s first gin distillery in the city for over 150 years, is located in Edinburgh’s old animal hospital, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies or locally know as the ‘Dick Vet’. In 2013, it was refurbished and became 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. The distillery is discreetly tucked just off the main courtyard and resides in the old dog kennels. Packed with character, it is a fitting home for Pickering’s Gin and a magical setting for tours and tastings.
Tour: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Book a distillery tour here
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