Dunnet Bay debuts gin made from Christmas trees

by Owen Bellwood

The UK’s most northerly mainland distillery, Dunnet Bay, is set to launch a winter edition of its Rock Rose Gin, flavoured with spruce tips from Christmas trees.

Rock Rose The Seasonal Editions Winter Gin is flavoured with spruce tips alongside original Rock Rose elements including rhodiola rosea, rowan berries and juniper, which have all been scaled back to allow the spruce to shine through. Spruce tips give the seasonal gin "delightful earthy and slightly citrusy notes". It claims to be one of the only spirits in the world flavoured with Christmas trees. Martin Murray, co-founder of Dunnet Bay Distillers, said: "Our aim is to create spirits that express a true flavour of the Scottish Highlands and the seasonal editions are a brilliant example of this. With local spruce tips the hero botanical we believe we have crafted a truly unique spirit with our Winter Edition." The Caithness-based distillery says the expression is just as enjoyable mixed with tonic as it is served neat, in a hot glass. Dunnet Bay Distillery is celebrating an "exceptional" year with its gin sales increasing by over 50% year-on-year. The craft gin industry has seen a huge boom in demand over recent years, with increased gin sales accounting for a year-on-year rise in UK spirits sales. Rock Rose The Seasonal Editions Winter Gin is available to pre-order online for £37.50 (US$50).