Glaswegin Aware milk thistle pink peppercorns

Caledonia House, 5 Inchinnan Drive, Inchinnan, Glasgow Scotland, PA4 9AF.

Glaswegin Aware milk thistle pink peppercorns

Our gin is bottled and distilled in the heart of Glasgow’s Tradeston area, and it was important to us that every element of Glaswegin reflected the city and the people that inspired it. With a nod to Glasgow’s industrial past, the distillery we have used is found under a railway bridge and, coincidentally, our founder spent years staring at the very spot the distillery now sits in while he waited for his bus home from school across the road. The tracks above our distillery used to serve Glasgow’s famous Central Station- linking Scotland’s industrial heart with the world.

Glaswegin Aware milk thistle pink peppercorns / The Still

A real thing of beauty, the handcrafted artisan copper alembic still may be manufactured by Al-Ambiq in Portugal but it’s reminiscent of something that could easily have been crafted by the side of the Clyde.

Copper has been used for stills for as long as anyone has been distilling. It keeps the distillate sweet and has excellent heat transfer properties, which helps in distributing heat evenly and in cooling the vapours, to reduce bacterial contamination and absorb unwanted sulphur compounds.

We distil using a traditional direct-fired copper pot still in small batches for maximum copper contact. Increased copper contact makes our spirit famously smooth, as contact with copper strips out impurities in the spirit (sulphites), making an even smoother sip.

Botanicals

The most important thing for us when we were thinking about our recipe was to create a gin that was unique, enjoyable to drink and reminded us of the city of Glasgow and its people. We needed our gin to be all about its flavour, not fussy or faddy and dependent on garnishes, a gin that you could enjoy glass after glass. And because we knew you’d potentially drink more than you realised, our ingredients had to make our gin as gentle as possible – well, as gentle as any alcohol could be!

Milk Thistle

Derived from the distinctive prickly plant with its purple flowers and white veins, milk thistle is believed to have a range of potential health benefits due to its active ingredient. Some studies suggest milk thistle has liver-protecting effects and boosts the immune system, making it a perfect addition to alcohol. It may even prevent a hangover – but we can’t make any promises! Other believed benefits include improved skin health, supporting bone health and reducing cholesterol.

Italian Juniper

Glaswegin just wouldn’t be gin without juniper and, with a nod to the influence of the many restaurants, chip shops and ice cream parlours loved throughout Glasgow, our juniper is Italian. Classed as a spice, juniper has a distinctive flavour and also has many perceived health benefits, including helping the kidneys to cleanse the system of excess fluids and stimulating the flow and production of digestive enzymes.

Coriander

After juniper, coriander seed is the most commonly used botanical in gin. Don’t worry if you’re not a fan, it’s the leaf that so many people dislike, not the seed. Northern grown coriander is fruitier than any southern variety and, following distillation, this botanical creates a complex yet subtle flavour that’s warm, citrusy, nutty and a little bit spicy (like many Glaswegians!). Coriander is believed to lower blood sugar, ease digestive discomfort and improve cholesterol levels.

Angelica

This plant flourishes in northern cold, wet and dreich climates, just like Glaswegians, and has been used in medicines as far back as the time of the Vikings. Angelica root, or more accurately its aromatic hydrocarbons and essential oils, is most commonly used in producing gin and its earthy, woody tones perfectly complement floral and citrus flavours. Bloating and heartburn can be eased by angelica and it has soothing properties when it comes to nervousness.

Orange Flower

Peel is usually what comes to mind when you think of gin and orange but, like a true Glaswegian who likes to be different, we opted for the more subtle orange blossom in our gin. The flower still delivers a delicious citrus flavour and is known to settle upset stomachs, even believed to soothe and relax nerves. There is definitely a theme developing with the purported health benefits of all the botanicals that go into Glaswegin.

Chamomile Flower

Tea is definitely what most people think of when you mention chamomile and the calming qualities that make it popular as a herbal tea make it ideal for our gin. It isn’t as common in gin as you’d think but it brings a warming sweetness to Glaswegin and perfectly complements our other botanicals with its floral notes. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties and is used by herbalists for stomach upsets, tackling anxiety and depression and even helping with insomnia.

Pink Peppercorns

Don’t be fooled by the name – pink peppercorns are, in fact, dried berries that are a perfect partner for juniper, creating an exciting flavour that gives a hint of spice and heat without a fiery, peppery taste. Like juniper, pink peppercorns have diuretic qualities, so are good for your kidney health. They’re also an ally in the fight against the common cold and flu which, given the weather in Glasgow is known to be somewhat on the cold side, could come in handy!

Bay Leaf

The final botanical on our list is the leaf of the sweet bay tree. Used regularly in cooking thanks to its distinctive fragrance and flavour, the savoury bay leaf blends well with our other botanicals and provides a subtle herby flavour. Bay leaves contain vitamins A, C, magnesium, calcium, manganese, potassium and iron, and are known to soothe body aches.

Glaswegin Original Gin 70cl

Glaswegin Aware milk thistle pink peppercorns / perfect serve

Our original London Dry Gin bottled at 41.1% abv.

Our multi-award winning London Dry Gin inspired by Glasgow; this wonderful city we call home. Crowned Scotland’s Best London Dry Gin at the 2021 World Gin Awards.

Our bespoke recipe and unique taste come as a result of blending eight globally sourced botanicals. Milk thistle, Italian juniper, coriander, angelica, orange flower, bay leaf, chamomile and pink peppercorn combine to create a characterful Glaswegian gin that you can enjoy glass after glass.

Tasting notes: Strong juniper and lime notes provide freshness with delicate orange flower notes for complexity. Locally sourced milk thistle and pink peppercorns round out the spirit for a finish so smooth that can be drunk with or without garnish.

G&T serving suggestion: Premium tonic, slices of green apple and a sprig of mint.

ABV / 41.1%
70 cl

Glaswegin Raspberry & Rhubarb Gin 70cl

Glaswegin Aware milk thistle pink peppercorns

Raspberry and Rhubarb Flavoured Glaswegin bottled at 37.5% abv.

For our first ever flavoured gin, we’ve added raspberry and rhubarb to our signature eight botanical blend, for an uncompromisingly fruity taste. Made with 100% natural ingredients, it is an elegant delicately pink gin with extraordinary length.

Tasting notes: warm raspberry jam and candied rhubarb dance up from the glass. Creamy, vanilla notes reminiscent of raspberry ripple ice cream. Fresh, crisp orange flower and lemon peel cut through for a refreshing, long finish with a pink peppercorn tingle.

G&T serving suggestion: Premium tonic, fresh raspberry and mint.

Alternative serving suggestion: Ginger ale or with your favourite premium lemonade (San Pellegrino works best).

Behind the Bottle

From the artisan still in the heart of Glasgow to the story behind our minimalistic bottle design, inspired by the city and people around us, find out what makes Glaswegin a gin for Glasgow.

We had our name and, while we were working on our recipe, the next question was “what is it going to look like?”. We knew it had to stand out and make Glasgow proud, so we approached award-winning designer and Glasgow School of Art graduate, Paul Gray, to discuss the project.

Paul is known for producing exceptional work that not only delights clients and attracts awards – he’s also invited to exhibit at the Design Museum London, the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) and the V&A in London. Could we dare to dream of a Glaswegin exhibition in the future?

In Paul’s own words…

“The brief initially was to design the packaging and appearance of a new gin. A first time entry into a, now, very busy and saturated market.”

“After a great deal of research I saw a commonality. Not all gins are the same but a lot of them are. Centred paper labels on glass. Some are distinctive. Most aren’t (in my view). Some work well in your hand but often fail behind the bar in a gantry. Finesse and detail, good production values are all very important but what, in my view, is often missing is the connection between your hand and a back bar presence (back bar standout).”

“A launch and dive into this arena (any arena) is always a risk, but distinctive design and brave clients can make things happen.”

“The feedback has been fantastic for such a young project. People are talking about it, asking for it specifically. That’s a very healthy sign.”

“Keep it simple. Simple always works. No complications. Clear, concise and then… a leap into the pool.”

Glaswegin Aware milk thistle pink peppercorns

Perfect Serve

Ingredients

50ml Glaswegin London Dry

Sliced Apple

Sprig Of Fresh Mint

Fever-Tree Tonic

Method

Fill your glass with ice, pour your Glaswegin, top with Fever-Tree tonic and add the garnish of mint and a slice of apple.

Awards

Glaswegin Aware milk thistle pink peppercorns / Award winning

IWSC 91 Pts Silver

The IWSC is the world’s largest and most influential spirits awards, and we were delighted to pick up a Silver Award for Glaswegin Original London Dry Gin.

World Gin Awards Best Scottish London Dry

A truly incredible accolade. Scotland produces incredible gin, and we were up against fantastic brands, so to be named the best in Scotland really blew us away. The World Gin Awards select the very best gins in the internationally recognised gin styles and promote the world’s best gins to consumers and trade across the globe.

Great Taste 2021

Great Taste is the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink awards. Glaswegin was awarded a Great Taste 2021 award for our Original London Dry Gin.

D&AD

We took home a Graphite Pencil for Luxury Packaging in the 2019 D&AD Awards, the highest accolade awarded in our category.

The Drum Design Awards 2019

Packaging Design
We were beyond delighted to pick up the award for Packaging Design, which saw us face big names including Carlsberg, Johnnie Walker and Heineken.

Chairman & Head Judge’s Award
The Chairman and Head Judge’s Award is one of the most prestigious awards given on the night, and we were honoured to receive it. Selected by the chair of the judging panel, John Mathers, director of design at the British Design Fund, Glaswegin was named as his personal best in show.

The Gin Masters

The Spirits Business Master 2020
The world’s most highly regarded series of spirits blind-tasting competitions. Our team was honoured to receive the Master title, the highest award within the category. The judges found Glaswegin to be full of “fruity berries” on the nose, with “some earthiness and some citrus” on the palate.

International Spirits Challenge 2020 Silver

The International Spirits Challenge is the most authoritative, respected, and influential spirits competition in the world. The competition is founded on a rigorous and independent judging process, which serves to encourage the high calibre of spirits, designs and campaigns entered the competition each year. Glaswegin received a Silver Award in 2020.

London Spirits Competition 2020 Bronze

Glaswegin was awarded a Bronze medal at the highly regarded London Spirits Competition. The scoring criteria looks at quality, value, and packaging, and we take massive pride in all of these areas. We are thrilled to have gained such a fantastic accolade.

Scottish Design Awards

We’re thrilled to have picked up the award for Best Packaging at the Scottish Design Awards. Open to all architects, engineers, graphic, interior, and digital designers the Scottish Design Awards celebrate class-leading work, best practice, sustainability and innovation in all its forms.

The Spirits Design Masters

Standing out on shelves is vital for brands to appeal to consumers, so getting design and packaging spot on is crucial. A Gold award in The Spirits Design Masters 2020 gin category was an incredible win for Glaswegin.

Scottish Gin Awards 2019 – Bronze Award

Winner of Bronze Award for London Dry Gin of the Year at the Scottish Gin Awards 2019. To say this was a tough category is an understatement. There were over 60 entries and a whopping 45 finalists, so to come 3rd out of all those amazing gins is a total dream come true.