The Botanist Islay Dry Gin. Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland — the first and only Islay dry gin, built on 31 botanicals including 22 hand-foraged from the hills, bogs, shores, and machair of Islay, distilled for 17 hours in a resurrected Lomond pot still nicknamed Ugly Betty.
The Botanist came to life in 2010 at Bruichladdich, the Islay distillery better known for its whisky. The idea was to create a gin that was an honest expression of Islay — its specific landscape, its botany, its latitude. Nine classic gin botanicals form the backbone: orris root, cassia bark, coriander seed, angelica root, juniper, licorice, lemon peel, orange peel, and white pepper. Layered over these are 22 botanicals hand-foraged responsibly from the island itself by Bruichladdich's own team of botanical scientists: meadowsweet, water mint, wood sage, hawthorn, creeping thistle, red clover, downy birch, bog myrtle, lemon balm, spearmint, mugwort, yarrow, sweet cicely, chamomile, heather, apple mint, elderflower, gorse, lady's bedstraw, tansy, white clover, and wild thyme.
The still is the key to what makes The Botanist singular. Ugly Betty — a Lomond pot still, resurrected from the defunct Inverleven Distillery and barged to Islay — was originally designed to produce a range of malt whisky styles. Its unusual design allows for an exceptionally slow distillation: each batch runs for approximately 17 hours, versus the 4–6 hours typical of most gin distillations. This achingly slow process allows the most delicate, volatile botanicals — many of which would be driven off quickly in a conventional still — to be captured intact in the spirit. The result is a gin with a satin-smooth texture and botanical depth that reveals something new in every glass.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Complex and overtly floral — elderflower and water mint stand out, alongside juniper, lemon balm, chamomile, and wildflowers. Citrus notes of lemon zest and orange peel weave through meadowsweet and heather. Herbaceous green aromas of wood sage and thyme. Subtle coastal salinity.
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Palate: Rich, mellow, and satin smooth. Cool on entry then warming. Juniper leads with pine and citrus, followed by a complex mid-palate of sweet and earthy botanicals — apple mint, chamomile, coriander, and cassia. Anise, peppery spice, and a subtle sweetness of elderflower and apple.
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Finish: Long, relaxed, and balanced. Water mint, hawthorn, wood sage, sweet cicely, cinnamon, soft juniper, and citrus in harmonious combination held together with a gentle, satin-soft texture. A lingering minty freshness at the very end.
Specs
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Distillery: Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland
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Style: Islay Dry Gin
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Classic Botanicals (9): Juniper, orris root, cassia bark, coriander seed, angelica root, licorice, lemon peel, orange peel, white pepper
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Hand-Foraged Islay Botanicals (22): Meadowsweet, water mint, wood sage, hawthorn, lemon balm, elderflower, heather, gorse, chamomile, apple mint, bog myrtle, mugwort, yarrow, red clover, spearmint, sweet cicely, downy birch, lady's bedstraw, creeping thistle, tansy, white clover, wild thyme
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Still: Lomond pot still “Ugly Betty” — 17-hour distillation
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ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
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Size: 750ml
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What does The Botanist taste like? Complex and overtly floral on the nose with elderflower, water mint, lemon balm, and chamomile. The palate is satin smooth with juniper, citrus, sweet spice, anise, and a revolving botanical kaleidoscope. The finish is long and balanced with mint, hawthorn, soft juniper, and lingering freshness.
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What is Ugly Betty? Ugly Betty is Bruichladdich's Lomond pot still, salvaged from the old Inverleven Distillery in Dumbarton and barged to Islay. Its unusual design allows for a 17-hour distillation that captures the most delicate botanical volatiles that conventional stills would drive off quickly.
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Why does The Botanist use 22 foraged botanicals? To create a gin that is a genuine expression of Islay as a place — its specific latitude, landscape, and flora. The 22 botanicals represent the island's hills, bogs, Atlantic shores, and machair, all hand-foraged by Bruichladdich's own botanical scientists.
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Does The Botanist contain peat from Islay? No — despite being produced at Bruichladdich, which is famous for its peated whiskies, The Botanist gin contains no peat in its production. Its character comes entirely from the 31 botanicals and the long Lomond still distillation.
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What cocktails is The Botanist best in? Outstanding in a G&T with a garnish of lemon, fresh thyme, or rosemary where its herbal complexity can shine. Also exceptional in a Martini served with a lemon twist, and genuinely pleasant to sip neat — rare among gins.
