BOOZE NEWS : The latest news on the drink market

NUMBER NINETEEN GIN FROM THE INTERCONTINENTAL EDINBURGH

Coinciding with the launch and multimillion pound refurbishment of InterContinental® Edinburgh – The George, a new signature gin brand – Number Nineteen– has been created in collaboration with the independent Scottish distillery, The OroGin Distilling Company to complement the classical style and tastes of the world renowned InterContinental brand.

The new Number Nineteen gin, available from the bar at the Printing Press Bar & Kitchen, in the mini bar for hotel guests, and for exclusive purchase as a bottle from the hotel, is the second gin to be launched by the property – following No. 25 in 2017.

Number Nineteen features an exclusive recipe that has been designed and distilled with gin experts from both the hotel and the distillery.This includes a blend of 15 botanicals from around the globe presented as a Scottish Dry Gin with a fresh bright note. Macedonian Juniper, Italian and Moroccan Coriander sit alongside Cassia from the Far east, Cinnamon from Sri Lanka, Citrus from Spain and a rare green cardamom from Guatemala. Fresh notes come from Lemon Verbena, Thai Lemon Grass and Kaffir Lime Leaves.

On the palate, this beautiful botanical combination initially delivers robust notes of juniper followed swiftly by bright and zesty citrus tones. Nineteen finishes with a smooth dry note, characteristic of a London Dry gin.

Number Nineteen (25ml) costs £5.50 and £49 for a bottle.

MCQUEENS GIN EMPORIUM

McQueens Gin Emporium has opened in Stirling and showcases five world-first flavours

• Sweet Citrus

• Mocha

• Smokey Chilli

• Chocolate Mint

• Chocolate Orange

The shop sells a range of McQueens gins and gift boxes.

Find the emporium at 18 Port Street, Stirling, FH8 2LD. www.mcqueengin.co.uk

Slàinte! NORTH UIST DISTILLERY CO TICKLES TASTE BUDS WITH NEW CHRISTMAS TIPPLE

North Uist Distillery is getting gin lovers in the Christmas spirit with a new seasonal special.

Its signature ‘Downpour’ gin has been reimagined as ‘Downpour Sloe & Bramble’. The spirit is infused with sloe berries and wild North Uist brambles, aged in specially selected bourbon casks – a process celebrated for its depth of taste.

A true local product, the craft gin company was founded by partners Jonny Ingledew and Kate MacDonald. The spirit is distilled and bottled on the island and is made with only the best hand-picked wild Hebridean brambles.

Priced at £29 and packaged to perfection, the gin is an ideal gift for a loved one or for yourself.

The gin is available for pre-order on www.northuistdistillery.com. Orders will be delivered, free of charge within the UK, from the start of December. The last date for free Christmas delivery is 18 December.

The seasonal spirit is highly versatile. It can be sipped straight over ice or enjoyed paired with a premium tonic, lots of ice and garnished with heather, raspberries and brambles. For those really wanting to start the season off in style, it makes a dangerously good mulled gin cocktail – served hot or cold. Or, get the party started by mixing it with fizz.

INNIS & GUNN TEAMS UP WITH CRU HOLDINGS TO CREATE EXCLUSIVE FESTIVE BEER

Rudolph the Red Nose Rye Beer, the first exclusive collaboration brew from Innis & Gunn in the north of Scotland, has gone on sale in two flagship bars owned and operated by Highland hospitality business Cru Holdings in Inverness.

Scotch & Rye and Bar One in Inverness now stock Rudolph the Red Nose Rye Beer. Innis & Gunn and Cru Holdings have also teamed up with the Mission Christmas campaign from MFR’s Cash for Kids which will see £1 from every pint sold donated to the charity.

Grant Murray, director of business development at Cru Holdings, explained: “We love Rudolph the Red Nose Rye Beer! Its signature festive flavours come from spiced orange zest and cinnamon”.

Gregor Campbell, field sales executive at Innis & Gunn, was at Scotch & Rye when the first pint of Rudolph the Red Nose Rye Beer was poured: “It’s great to see the beer being served. This is the first collaboration brew Innis & Gunn has done in the north of Scotland. The beer was brewed by our resident brewer ‘Digger’ at our microbrewery at the Arches in Argyle Street, Glasgow”.

On sale throughout December, Cru Holdings and Innis & Gunn hope that Rudolph the Red Nose Rye Beer (5.4% ABV) will prove popular with drinkers and that money raised from sales will make a difference to children living in poverty this Christmas.

SCOTCH LIQUEUR CROWNED KING OF THE CASTLE IN EDINBURGH

Scotland’s leading Scotch malt whisky cream liqueur, Magnum, has been crowned one of the top selling products at Edinburgh Castle after smashing its annual sales target.

Over 1,000 cases (12,000 bottles) of Magnum have been snapped up by visitors to the historic landmark between January and November 2019 alone.

Magnum’s superior ingredients and contemporary design have set it apart from traditional liqueurs as a fusion of only single malt Scotch whisky and cream. Crafted and bottled in Edinburgh, Magnum has quickly established itself as the tipple of choice amongst international and domestic visitors alike, who are attracted to its delicious taste and local Edinburgh provenance. Magnum is contained in a unique, stainless steel flask, which is designed to be reusable and recyclable. The innovative packaging also keeps the liqueur chilled at the optimum temperature, without the need for ice.

Magnum’s smooth, creamy caramel notes play off single malt scotch whisky for a balanced taste with a warming ginger afterglow.

In addition to Edinburgh Castle, Magnum is also available to purchase online at www.magnumcreamliqueur.co.uk, with free delivery anywhere in the UK. A range of 5cl miniatures, 50cl, 1 litre and 1.75 litre bottles are also on offer.

EDINBURGH GIN BRINGS ‘WONDER’ TO SCOTLAND’S CAPITAL

Biggest-ever brand campaign sees ‘Filled with Wonder’ advert premiere on the streets of its hometown - literally.

Edinburgh Gin premiered its new advert on the streets of Edinburgh, with a special night-time projection on one of the city’s most iconic buildings, The Dome on the 3rd December.

Creatively reimagining the taste of their signature Rhubarb & Ginger gin, the advert - part of the brand’s new ‘Filled with Wonder’ campaign - leads viewers through a fantastical journey of flavour, capturing the brand’s point-of-difference as a highly original but carefully considered gin-maker.

Casting its hometown Edinburgh in a starring role, the new TV spot transports its audience through changing perspectives in the city, representing the imagination that lies behind Edinburgh Gin’s craft; shifting from a blossoming flower bed, to an urban party surrounded by a forest of rhubarb.

Edinburgh Gin gave locals the chance to be the first to see the advert, live, as The Dome switched off its famous Christmas decorations for the magical one-off projection at 6pm on 3rd December.

The activity is part of a wider multi-million-pound campaign that will raise awareness of the local brand throughout the UK.

The campaign comes at an interesting time for gin. It is now the U.K.’s most popular spirit* having experienced astronomic growth in recent years. More than a quarter of the population has bought gin and gin liqueurs in the 12 months to June 2019, helping to create an industry worth £2.2bn**. Edinburgh Gin has played a key role in defining the market and currently has 3 of the top 8 best-selling flavoured gin products.

Three new, full-strength flavour extensions from its multi-award-winning distillery have been released in the past year, including Rhubarb & Ginger, Lemon & Jasmine and Bramble & Honey, each of which combine their own balanced natural flavours with the juniper-forward profile of a classic gin (all are 40% ABV, 70cl and have a RRP of £28).

The latest booze news from Scotland