About Advertise with us Get our newsletter
Facebook Twitter Instagram

Features

Just the tonic … gin born in a garden shed in the West End goes on sale for first time

A spirit formulated in a garden shed in the West End of Glasgow and distilled in Scotland has gone on sale in time for Christmas.

A micro drinks company based in the West End is celebrating its first batch of gin.

The Garden Shed Drinks Company was set up just four months ago by Glasgow Warriors rugby players Ryan Grant and Ruaridh Jackson and their wives Maxine and Kirstin.

 Cheers: The Garden Shed Drinks Company only set up four months ago
Cheers: The Garden Shed Drinks Company only set up four months ago

The recipe was formulated in the garden of the Grant's home in Scotstoun - hence the name.

Maxine told Glasgow West End Today: "This is a big moment for us - our first gin has been bottled and is ready for sale.

"It's amazing how we've got to this stage in such a short space of time.

"We're really excited at what we've produced - I hope people like what they taste."

The spirit uses a mixture of 14 botanicals - some of which are grown locally.

 Flavour: the gin uses 14 botanicals including blackberries and dandelion root
Flavour: the gin uses 14 botanicals including blackberries and dandelion root

The flavourings include homegrown blackberries, dandelion root and lavender.

Eden Mill distillery in St Andrews agreed to make the gin using the West End recipe.

And this week, the first 150 bottles were filled in time for Christmas.

The couples helped bottle and label up the Garden Shed Gin.

The company hopes to tap in to the market for craft, artisan spirits with its classic London dry style gin.

And Maxine says they want to start growing more of the botanicals in their garden shed.

 Team: From left to right… Kirstin, Ruaridh, Ryan and Maxine
Team: From left to right… Kirstin, Ruaridh, Ryan and Maxine

They also want to produce gin in the most environmentally friendly way.

Maxine says: "That's why we are donating to Trees4scotland and The Bumblebee conservation trust.

"We think it is important to be environmentally responsible."

She adds: "It's also important to say that Garden Shed Gin is distilled in Scotland.

"So, we can proudly say we are a genuine Scottish spirit."

Garden Shed Gin is on sale at The Good Spirits Co on Clarence Drive, Hyndland.

It's also a guest drink at the Duck Club restaurant on Hyndland Street and the Wee Lochan on Crow Road.

Share this story
Glasgow West End Today Loading