Gin · Lowlands
Gin Distilleries in Lowlands
Tour 8 gin distilleries in Lowlands. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Eden Mill Distillery, Edinburgh Gin Distillery, Lind & Lime Gin Distillery.
8distilleries
The Borders Distillery
The Borders' first Scotch distillery in generations
Pickering's Gin (Summerhall Distillery)
Edinburgh's gin in a former vet school
About gin distilleries in Lowlands
Scotland's Lowlands have become the heartland of the country's gin revival, and nowhere is that clearer than in the corridor between Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Fife and Borders countryside. Scotland produces some of the world's best-selling gins, and a wave of craft distilleries has followed in their wake, many of them clustered in and around the two big cities. Edinburgh alone is rich in producers: Edinburgh Gin, Holyrood, Pickering's at Summerhall, and the Leith gin distillery Lind & Lime all give the capital a thriving gin scene, while The Glasgow Distillery Company put gin back on the map in the west with its Makar brand. Beyond the cities, Eden Mill and Kingsbarns in Fife and The Borders Distillery in Hawick widen the picture. What unites them is a craft approach: small batches, carefully chosen botanicals and a sense of place. For visitors, Lowland gin is wonderfully accessible, with city-centre distilleries, hands-on tasting experiences and tours that explain the botanicals and the stories behind each bottle.
What makes Lowlands gin special
Gin in the Lowlands is defined by craft and locality. Juniper is the legal heart of any gin, joined commonly by coriander and angelica, but the appeal of the region's distillers lies in how they build on that base, often drawing on botanicals that reflect their surroundings to make small batches with a distinct sense of place. Edinburgh Gin's original expression, for example, is known for a full juniper character lifted with heathery notes, while The Glasgow Distillery Company's Makar, whose name nods to the Gaelic word for a poet, was the first gin distilled in the city. The variety on offer is striking: from classic London Dry styles to citrus-forward, floral and more complex herbal gins. Producers such as Holyrood, Pickering's, Lind & Lime, Eden Mill, Kingsbarns and The Borders Distillery each bring their own twist, which means tasting your way around the Lowlands is an exercise in contrast as much as in juniper.
What to expect from a gin tasting
A Lowland gin experience usually puts the botanicals front and centre. On a tour you will typically meet the team behind the gin, see how it is made and hear the stories behind the chosen botanicals, before the best part: tasting. Expect to nose raw botanicals, sample several gins side by side and learn how subtle changes in the recipe shift the flavour from juniper-forward to citrus, floral or herbal. Many city distilleries have made an event of it; Pickering's at Summerhall occupies the site of a former veterinary college, Holyrood sits within easy reach of the city centre, and several producers run polished bars and tasting rooms alongside the stills. Some offer make-your-own-gin sessions or food and cocktail pairings as well as standard tours. Because gin is unaged, tastings here are immediate and approachable, ideal for those new to spirits as well as enthusiasts wanting to compare house styles.
Planning your visit
The Lowlands are arguably the most convenient part of Scotland for a gin trip, with many distilleries inside Edinburgh and Glasgow themselves. In the capital you can walk or take a short taxi between Edinburgh Gin, Holyrood, Pickering's at Summerhall and Lind & Lime in Leith, making a self-guided gin crawl entirely feasible without a car. Glasgow offers The Glasgow Distillery Company, while a short trip into Fife reaches Eden Mill and Kingsbarns, and the Borders has The Borders Distillery at Hawick. Good rail links between the cities and to Fife mean you can plan much of a trip around public transport, which is ideal when tasting is involved. Book tours and tasting experiences in advance, especially at weekends and in summer when popular city sites fill up, and consider pairing distillery visits with the cities' wider food and drink scene to make a full day or weekend of it.
Frequently asked
- Why is the Lowlands such a strong region for gin?
- The Lowlands sit at the centre of Scotland's gin revival, with a cluster of craft distilleries in and around Edinburgh and Glasgow plus producers in Fife and the Borders. Easy city-centre access, a thriving small-batch scene and a focus on local botanicals make it one of the most rewarding regions for gin lovers.
- Can I do a gin tour without a car?
- Yes, easily. Several Edinburgh distilleries, including Edinburgh Gin, Holyrood, Pickering's at Summerhall and Lind & Lime in Leith, are within walking or short taxi distance of one another, and good rail links connect Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife. That makes a car-free gin trip very practical, which is ideal when you plan to taste.
- What botanicals are used in Lowlands gin?
- Juniper is the legal foundation of any gin, usually joined by coriander and angelica root. Beyond those, Lowland craft distillers often add botanicals that reflect their surroundings, which is how you get everything from heathery and herbal notes to citrus and floral styles across different producers.
- What happens on a gin distillery tour?
- Typically you meet the team, see how the gin is made, learn the stories behind the botanicals and then taste the range. Many distilleries let you nose raw botanicals and compare several gins side by side, and some offer extras such as make-your-own-gin sessions or cocktail and food pairings.
- Are there gin distilleries in central Edinburgh and Glasgow?
- Yes. Edinburgh has a particularly dense gin scene, with Edinburgh Gin, Holyrood, Pickering's at Summerhall and Lind & Lime in Leith. Glasgow has The Glasgow Distillery Company, known for its Makar gin, the first gin distilled in the city.
- Do I need to book gin tastings in advance?
- Booking ahead is recommended, especially at weekends and in summer when popular city distilleries fill up quickly. Reserving secures your preferred time and the specific experience you want, whether that is a standard tour, a tasting flight or a make-your-own-gin session.
- Is a gin tasting suitable for beginners?
- Very much so. Because gin is unaged, tastings are immediate and approachable, and the focus on botanicals makes them easy to follow. The range of styles across the Lowlands, from classic London Dry to floral and citrus gins, means there is something to suit most palates.