Forage for Botanicals and Create Your Own Gin

Highlights

  • Learn from the expert distiller seated at your own still in an independent craft distillery
  • Learn how to mix the botanicals to create the perfect flavour in your own signature blend
  • Be treated to a delicious lunch of artisan local produce and tastings of craft gins
From £180 pp
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What you'll do

In your own private group of 4 to 6 people, immerse yourself in the flavour and aroma of botanicals with a local forager in the beautiful Cairngorms; tour the craft distillery and learn about the art of gin making through the centuries. Enjoy a delicious lunch of artisan local produce whilst sampling the craft gins and spirits, then take part in your own Spirit School and mix freshly foraged botanicals to create your very own gin to take home and enjoy.

Throughout this unique immersive experience you’ll be transported through the history and art of distilling whilst getting hands on, creating your very own recipe.

You’ll the start the day at 9am with an expert forager, sourcing your botanicals and gathering local ingredients in the beautiful landscape of Royal Deeside. You’ll learn the secrets and lore of wild ingredients, gathered for centuries here at the edge of the Cairngorms National Park.

At around 10am, back at the micro distillery, the fun class kicks off with an informal tour of the distillery to learn about botanicals and the art of distilling. It’s then time to get creative with foraged ingredients and the botanical ‘wall’, learning the secrets of producing your own spirit with its own unique flavours.  Your expert distiller will be on hand to offer advice on which botanicals complement each other and what ratios to use but ultimately the final recipe is down to you, so let your inner distiller loose!

Lunch of Scottish local produce will be served at the distillery  and you’ll be able to sample some of the distillery’s own own creations, including the first ever Scottish absinthe and their Lost Loch Eenoo gin. You’ll add the finishing touches to your gin, and leave with a 50cl bottle of your own labelled recipe to enjoy at home.

Your experience lasts for around 6 hours and lunch is included, perfect for anyone looking for something a little different to do on an activity holiday in Scotland.

What's included

Included

  • 4-6 hour Spirit School with expert instruction from a master craft distiller
  • Samples of a selection of your hosts' craft gins and spirits
  • One 50cl bottle of your own unique recipe to take home. 
  • A delicious lunch of local artisan products supplied by your hosts
Your local host

Jan Leatham

Royal Deeside has been my home for more than half my life, and I like nothing better than sharing my passion for this beautiful part of Scotland with visitors. Whether it’s bringing the Distillery's story to life, explaining the fascinating distilling process, exploring our fabulous natural resources, or showing people how to make their own gin – frankly it’s a dream job!

Royal Deeside has been my home for more than half my life, and I like nothing better than sharing my passion for this beautiful part of Scotland with visitors. Whether it’s bringing the Distillery's story to life, explaining the fascinating distilling process, exploring our fabulous natural resources, or showing people how to make their own gin – frankly it’s a dream job!

Sustainability Efforts

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Location

The Lost Loch Spirits distillery is nestled between forest and farmland on the edge of the Cairngorm National Park – making it the perfect location to utilize the fantastic, fresh natural ingredients found all around. The distillery is fitted with a modern 500 litre iStill, which can produce up to 500 bottles per day, as well as three traditional copper alembic stills used for recipe development and the production of absinthe. With the current setup, they’re capable of outputting 80,000 bottles per year!

What our travellers are saying...

Well this was a great afternoon out! We were given an interesting tour of the distillery and then a gin tasting experience that was worth way more than what we paid! Great hosts and we learned a lot about the gin making process that we didn't already know. I would highly recommend a visit. Of course, we had to buy a few bottles before we left as the gin they make is fabulous!

Karen

The initial impression of the set up was fantastic, and continued to impress through the initial tour & learning section of the visit. Some of the myths around Gin were put to rest, and Peter, showing a clear flair for the business, made Gin & spirit production both exciting & informative at the same time. It’s not just Gin available here either, something we were pleasantly surprised with in the tasting session. Gins, Haroosh (a family recipe)

Garry

FAQs

When can I go?

This experience is available year round, however the best time for foraging to find your own botanicals is between May and October.

Are any other spirits available apart from gin?

Yes the distillery makes a selection of craft spirits including a non alcoholic one!

What's for lunch?

Lunch is served as part of the experience. There is no set menu in this regard, but the hosts typically offer a comprehensive buffet style offering utilising local produce and within reason can tailor this to specific needs for any dietary requirements. The buffet includes dessert/ cakes etc. Drinks are on the house during the experience, inclusive of alcoholic offerings, soft drinks, teas/coffee etc.

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