Tayside and Fife to the fore at the inaugural Scottish Gin Awards

Tayside and Fife won big at the inaugural Scottish Gin Awards.

Angus-based Arbikie was named Scottish gin distillery of the year while Dundee’s Verdant Gin took the prize for the finest Scottish drink, Verdant Dry. The tipple was chosen after the 12 judges of the awards took part in a blind tasting session. Ambitious Fife distiller and brewer Eden Mill also got in on the action by being named as growth business of the year. The prizes were handed out at a ceremony in Glasgow hosted by newsreader Catriona Shearer and comedian Des Clarke. Scottish Gin Society founder and judging panel chairman Stephen White said the competition had been fierce. “We’ve worked very hard to establish the credibility, integrity and impartiality of the Scottish Gin Awards and the turnout from the Scottish distillers has reflected the importance in which they already place the programme,” he said. “Winning a Scottish Gin Award is a huge opportunity to further the promotion of Scottish gin brands at home, across the UK and abroad.” Andrew Mackenzie, founder and managing director of Verdant Spirits, said: “We are absolutely chuffed. “We had high hopes for the London Dry Gin category but to get the best gin of the year was completely unexpected.” Iain Stirling of Arbikie said the company tried its best to fly the flag for craft spirit production in Angus and Dundee and was delighted and humbled to have been named Scotland’s top gin distillery.

Picture: Duncan McCallum. Verdant Spirits’ Andrew Mackenzie and partnerJudy Fowlie accept the gin of the year award.