Gin aged in casks from five Scotch regions

Craft gin distiller Pickering's has launched a collection of oak aged gins matured in single malt whisky casks from distilleries in five of Scotland's distinct whisky regions.

Based at Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh, Pickering's Gin has created a marriage between two of Scotland’s best loved spirits, by ageing its gin in five Scotch malt whisky casks from Islay, Speyside, the Lowlands, Islands and the Highlands.

The gin is aged in one cask from each of the five regions at a time. Each cask yields just 200 bottles of never-to-be-repeated 47% ABV oak aged gin.

After selecting the casks, founders Marcus Pickering and Matt Gammell brought the barrels back to the distillery to be filled with batches of cask strength Pickering's Gin. The oak ageing process lasted between three and six months for each expression.

Each gin can be drunk like a whisky using water or ice, or savoured in cocktails  to bring out the gin's subtle whisky notes. The flavour profile ranges from the light and citric aromas of Speyside to the sweeter, peatier notes of the Islay region.

Lowland, Speyside, Highland, Island, and Islay Cask Aged Gins retail at £36 for a 35cl bottle. It is available to buy either online at www.pickeringsgin.com or directly from the Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh.

Pickering’s Gin won a Gold at the World Spirits Awards in 2015.

Marcus Pickering, co-founder says: “Scouring the length and breadth of Scotland to find the perfect whisky casks was a tough gig, but someone had to do it. We eventually identified five of the best casks to create our oak aged expressions, helping us to craft five gins which are undoubtedly different.”

Pickering’s co-founder Matt Gammell adds: “As distillers we wanted to take people on a journey exploring both gin and whisky, and to truly test the versatility of Pickering’s Gin. With gin, there’s endless pleasure to be had experimenting with new flavours, serves and cocktails. Our latest offering of oak aged gin is truly a different way to experience gin, and to explore the world of Scotch whisky for spirit lovers the world over.”

Whisky writer Charlie MacLean comments: “All five expressions retain the fragrance, taste and product identity of gin but finish on the palate like a whisky thanks to the subtle extra dimension left behind by the cask ageing.”

Co-founded by Marcus Pickering and Matt Gammell in 2013, Pickering’s Gin is based on an original Bombay recipe dating from 1947. The gin is handcrafted at Summerhall Distillery – the first exclusive gin distillery to be established in Edinburgh for over 150 years.

27 May 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor