Downpour Scottish Dry Gin (North Uist Distillery)

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46%

Special Features:

Wild-foraged heather flowers from Uist give Downpour Scottish Dry Gin its distinctive floral, honey-like note. North Uist Distillery uses twice the industry-average concentration of botanicals by weight in its recipe. This reflects a deliberate choice: the flavours should remain clearly perceptible even after mixing with tonic. Essential oils from the botanicals create a natural cloudiness in the glass, while the gin remains clear in the bottle.

Bold juniper unites the different facets of this recipe: lemon and grapefruit contribute lively citrus notes, while orange, cassia and clove add warmth and depth. Cardamom and coriander seeds provide floral accents, with cubeb pepper adding peppery spice. Orris and angelica roots contribute earthy tones. Heather flowers round out the combination with a honey-like impression.

The blue glass bottle features a tactile rain pattern and the embossed Downpour name. It was developed with design studio Jamhot, and its neck was designed for easy refilling. The gin is offered at 46% alcohol in a bottle containing 0.7 litres. Ice, lemon and a sprig of rosemary make suitable accompaniments for a gin and tonic.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, citrus aromas mingle with spicy notes.
• Palate: Bold, pine-like juniper initially takes the lead on the palate. Citrus notes and spices follow, alongside a pronounced floral impression of Hebridean heather.
• Finish: Spicy notes linger through the long, dry finish. A honey-like impression of heather flowers rounds it out.

Distillery/Bottler:

Kate MacDonald and Jonny Ingledew founded North Uist Distillery in 2017 in their home islands, the Outer Hebrides. Both grew up on North Uist, and Jonny brought experience in brewing and distilling. Their first experiments took place with a small tabletop still in a borrowed shed. Downpour Gin became their first release in April 2019. Through the business, they wanted to create jobs, attract visitors to the islands and bring whisky production back to their homeland.

The connection with the island community also extends to sourcing heather flowers: friends of the distillery gather them in Uist in exchange for gin. This brings traditional bartering into the production process. North Uist Distillery has been B Corp certified since 2023, recognising the company's social and environmental impact alongside its economic performance.

Facts: