This gin all started with a conversation!

In August we were awarded 3 Gold Stars in the Great Taste awards run by The Guild of Fine Foods, the announcement and celebrations for the winners were held in London at the beginning of October - so off I went. To win any 3 star award is no mean feat as 10,000 entries from all over the UK and Ireland are tasted with only 147 being awarded 3 stars so it is fair to say I was delighted.

Anyway I was sitting at the awards dinner beside a man called Rob Ward who had won a 2 star Great Taste  award for his Pure Canadian Maple Syrup, and as we chatted I found out all the great properties of this amazing syrup. Did you know it contains the same amount of antioxidants as a banana, along with other essential minerals such as magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium and Vitamin B12!  This natural product was exactly the type of ingredient that we love at the Gin Bothy - taking what’s best in quality and goodness and blending it into something special!

“So I asked him, has anyone ever made a Maple syrup gin?”

Well so far we didn't think so, and after dinner I said let's try it, as technically it would be a 5 star award winner already!

Back at the bothy I received samples of Rob’s 3 flavours of Pure Maple and set about infusing. Like all good things it took a bit of time, but it was lovingly turned daily and soooo worth it, the Dark Maple Syrup is the best quality I have ever tasted, and it's rich taste encased the gin giving us a 37.5% abv spirit and a deep warm taste, stunning!

Collaboration and working with other small producers is something we are proud to do here at Gin Bothy, as without our local fruit producers, farmers and now Maple producer we wouldn't be able to source the finest ingredients.

The first batch is 300 bottles and I honestly think this is one of my best creations yet, so next time you have a conversation over a wee gin, you never know what might happen!