Tayport Distillery
Unit 2 Shanwell Rd,
Tayport
History When Kecia McDougall boarded a plane in Ohio to move to Fife in the name of love she would had no idea that the journey would end up with her as Fife’s first female distiller. However, the distilling side didn’t happen for quite a while. Although a keen amateur distiller, Kecia worked for 25 years as a highly skilled NHS nurse before making the big decision in 2017 to leave her job and concentrate on launching Tayport Distillery. She didn’t want to just release any gin – she wanted to create a Scottish twist on a traditional European drink, namely eau de vie. The spirit is made using fruits and grains that come from the surrounding areas in Fife (the distiller keeps to a strict 50-mile radius), where Kecia makes everything in small batches but no added sugar – any sweetness comes naturally from the fruits.
The Spirit First to come from the distillery was the Never.25 range of eaux de vie, made with Scottish grains with three variants in strawberry, raspberry, apple and bueberry. It also has a raspberry and blackcurrant liqueur and a newly launched vodka. All its brands are all-natural and some of the smoothest spirits and liqueurs you will ever taste.
Why Visit? Tayport Distillery is located on the outskirts of the Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve. It welcomes visitors and offers two tours. The standard one costs £10 and lasts about one hour. It gives an informative guide of the history of alcohol, a tour of the distillery, a perfect serve with its brands and four samples from the range. If you want a longer and more hands-on tour, then book the Distiller’s Kitchen tour, where you will be able to create your own unique craft spirit and learn about flavours along the way using the amazing local larder.
Interesting Fact A few months ago the distillery launched a gin inspired by a famous cat. The limited edition blend features catnip as a botanical and a pawprint label. Hamish McHamish was a ginger cat who lived in St Andrews and came to prominence through Susan McMullan’s book Hamish McHamish of St Andrews: Cool Cat About Town.
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