DRINK - Darnleys Gin Experience, Edinburgh

Darnleys Gin has long been one of my favourite gins especially the Original and the Spiced. I loved visiting their Darnleys Cottage last year when I took in a tour at Kingsbarns Distillery, their home in the East Neuk of Fife.

Now Darnleys have set up shop in Edinburgh. A pop-up shop (for nine months initially) located in Castle Street with that view of Edinburgh Castle.

Not only is it a shop, it’s also the location for Darnley’s Gin Experience which combines gin tasting, gin chat - the history of gin and the history and future of Darnleys gin; making the Darnleys Signature Blend as well as blending your very own gin from a range of single botanical distillates created by Darnley’s distiller, Scott Gowans. You’ll balance botanicals, choose flavours and enjoy a spirited experience that’s truly unique.

You also get to take away a bottle of the 20cl Signature Blend Gin as well as your own creation (20cl bottle). But the great thing about this experience is that, if you love your own gin creation, you can then order more. Darnley’s will keep your recipe on file so that your gin can be re-ordered whenever a top-up is needed.

Alongside The Darnley’s Gin Experience there is also a gin bar, so you can pop in for your favourite Darnleys Gin & Tonic or Gin Cocktail whilst you browse the shop.

Gin tasting is very similar to whisky tasting in that the aromas and the tastes are completely individual and there is no right or wrong answer. We sampled the Darnleys Original Gin which is light and refreshing with floral notes of elderflower; the Spiced Gin which has a heavy hit of clove, cinnamon, coriander and ginger (no wonder I love it) and the Navy Strength which although strong and punchy is extremely smooth.

The entire experience is Covid regulated, with your own set of vials, glasses and tinctures and, when it comes to choosing your botanicals, you’ll use the fragrance tester strips to pop into the botanical distillates so you can choose which goes into the making of your own gin. You’ll spend some time just smelling the various botanicals and working out your recipe, whilst adding the distillate in your chosen quantity to your glass flask. Once made, you’ll label your gin bottles and even give your own gin a name!

Your gins need to marry at home for 3-5 days before they are at their best to drink.

My gin is called the Rusty Rose with dominant botanicals of Rosehip and Ginger.

It’s a gin experience that keeps on giving long after it has finished. I was fair chuffed, sitting in the garden sipping on my own gin.

The Gin Experience lasts approx 90 minutes and it’s packed full of fun and a lot of gin drinking! This experience would be fantastic as a gift for Birthdays, Christmas etc but also for Hen parties or groups wanting a different interactive experience.

Darnleys Gin Experience, 19 Castle Street, Edinburgh. www.darnleysgin.com/pages/gin-experience