PREMIUM spirits brand Edinburgh Gin is toasting the acquisition of a new city centre base as it pursues multi-million pound development plans.
The three-floor site on East Market Street, in the world famous historic heart of the capital, is to become home to a new distillery and visitor centre.
The move will see the existing Edinburgh Gin Visitor Centre and Distillery relocate from the west end as it aims to capitalise on the brand’s popularity.
The brand is currently the number one super-premium gin in the UK by value, according to industry figures.
The new space, near Waverley station, will allow production capacity to grow by more than 200% and it is hoped that more than 100,000 people will visit the premises every year.
Blueprints include a glass-fronted entrance to provide a street-side view of the stills, a “stunning” rooftop terrace with botanicals used in the making of the spirit and private tasting rooms.
The company promises it will offer “a sensory immersion into flavour, botanicals and distilling”. The planning process is now underway.
Neil Mowat, UK marketing director of parent firm Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the evolution of Edinburgh Gin.
“Edinburgh Gin is in high demand and this investment is our commitment to continued innovation and growth.
“We are confident this will be a stunning distillery that offers a gin experience quite unlike any other.”
Established in 1933, family-owned Ian Macleod Distillers – which produces and sells over 15 million bottles of spirit per year – acquired Edinburgh Gin two years ago.
The gin brand launched in 2010 and opened its second distillery at the Biscuit Factory, Leith, in 2016. Its core portfolio includes straight spirits and gin liqueurs, including rhubarb and ginger, raspberry and pomegranate and rose varieties.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here