Craft Gin Distilleries
Refreshing botanical-based gin, made across Argyll & the Isles.Gin is experiencing a huge revival, in part due to the popularity of cocktail culture. This revival is reflected in Argyll & the Isles with a handful of innovative, award-winning micro-distilleries.
All gins share the juniper berry as their primary attribute and it is in the expert selection and blending of botanicals where makers get creative. Thankfully, Scotland is rich in natural resources and you can expect Icelandic moss (it grows in Scotland!), sheep sorrel, heather, gorse and even Loch Fyne oyster shells. Most will be seasonally hand-foraged as part of a wider commitment to sustainability.
The secret to craft gin is in the traditional copper stills which remove any impurities from the distilling process. Many of our distillers give their stills names. Bute Gin’s is called Andrea and Beinn an Tuirc’s is called Big Don. This tells you everything about our makers' passion for the process!
These small-batch, artisan producers are using the resources on their doorstep for a unique, sophisticated flavour. The choice is huge - spicy and floral tastes, pink gin, traditional gin, navy strength and even bramble gin liqueur. Drink it neat, with a mixer or in your favourite cocktail - either way, on a distillery tour, you can expect the perfect serve.
Craft Gin Experiences
If you’re partial to a craft gin or just curious about how it’s made, the micro-distilleries of Argyll offer a truly immersive experience.
Kintyre Gin School
If you head south to Carradale in Kintyre, you’ll find the Beinn an Tuirc Distillers on the beautiful Torrisdale Castle Estate.
Home of the award-winning Kintyre Gin, the distillery is run on renewable hydropower and uses local spring water in the distilling process.
The estate offers a wide range of gin experiences, including distillery tours and a gin school where you can create your own bespoke flavours.
Island Gins
Nothing says you’re on holiday like a boat trip and, with our fantastic ferries, a tour of the island's gin distilleries couldn’t be easier.
Bute
On the Isle of Bute, known for its beaches and pretty villages, you’ll find the Isle of Bute Distillery with its lovely little gin garden.
Here you can sample the world’s first oyster gin – a savoury gin, ideal to pair with seafood – and a wide selection of botanical products.
There’s also a shop so you can take a taste of Bute home with you.
Isle of Mull
The Tobermory Distillery on Mull produces three Hebridean Gins for you to sample during their tasting sessions. There’s a wider distillery visitor centre to explore and enjoy.
Jura
The Lussa Gin Distillery on Jura produces multi-award-winning gins packed with botanicals grown in polytunnels, community gardens, and greenhouses across the island. This is truly a community spirit!
The shop is open during the week, and you can see the whole distillery in action from there.
Colonsay
For the ultimate gin experience, head to Wild Thyme Spirits on the island of Colonsay. Along with offering a gin distillery tour and tasting experience, this family-run business offers fabulous gin lovers' retreats. Perfect for special occasions, you can kick back, sip gin and enjoy the peace and wonder of this remote island.
Go Wild About Argyll's Gin Distilleries
Deer Island Rum
Deer Island Distillers are the Isle of Jura's rum producers, who launched in May 2021. Deer Island Distillers was founded by Jura-born Michael Walton and his...
Workshop 3, The Pier Garage
Craighouse
Isle of Jura
PA60 7XS
Know your Scottish Gins
- Scotland produces 70% of the UK's overall gin production, which includes small-batch craft gins and the larger producers.
- Most small producers give their pot stills nicknames. Meet Ugly Betty, Hamish, and Big Don (to name but a few).
- Some of the producers employ foragers to gather their botanicals.
More About Argyll's Gin Distilleries
Sip and sit back and enjoy the best of our gin themed blogs. Cheers!
Argyll's got Spirit! 5 Scottish Craft Gin to Try
The Argyll region is famed for its craft gin production, so whether you like your gin neat or served with a mixer, here are 5 Scottish craft gins to try.
Craft beer and craft gin – there’s more to Islay than whisky
Scotch whisky isn’t the only drink produced on the island of Islay. Craft beer and craft gin are made here too! Discover some of Islay's local gins & beers.
Whisky, Gin & Rum: The Top Distilleries on Jura
The Hebridean Isle of Jura is known for its rugged landscape. Bute there's plenty whisky and craft gin to discover tool! Here are our top distilleries on Jura.
