Edinburgh Military Tattoo inspires latest gin

Pickering's Gin has launched a tartan bottling as an exclusive for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The new ‘Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Gin’ is made with the base of Pickering’s along with four additional Scottish botanicals – heather, Scots pine, bog myrtle and milk thistle.

This is the first time Pickering’s has incorporated Scottish botanicals into their botanical blend enhancing the original Bombay recipe.

Matt Gammell, co-founder and head distiller commented: “Scottish botanicals are not part of Pickering's DNA. Our inspiration is derived from an original Bombay gin recipe that dates back to 1947.

“Key Pickering’s botanicals, like cinnamon, cloves and cardamom are a far cry from indigenous Scottish botany. However this year's “splash of tartan” theme for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo posed an experimental opportunity not to be missed.

“This is our own take on a classic Scottish Gin, incorporating the characteristic Pickering’s punch.”

The collector’s edition bottle comes complete with a tartan wrap, which is The Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s official tartan of red, green and blue mix – the military colours of the army, navy and air force.

Marcus Pickering, co-founder and head of export added: “We’re a proud Edinburgh business and, like The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, we’re constantly looking outward.

“The Splash of Tartan theme celebrates Scotland’s disparate clans and families and the spread of Scottish ideas across the world. In our opinion, there’s no better example of this than the current popularity of Scottish spirits overseas.

“Our partnership with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has opened opportunities in Australia and New Zealand and Asia is also in the offing. We hope our collectable half bottle will delight the thousands of visitors to the city as much as the locals who enjoy the fireworks emerge from the Castle Esplanade every evening in August”.

The new gin is now available from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo shop on Cockburn Street, directly from Pickering’s Summerhall distillery and online. It will also soon be available from selected Edinburgh retailers.

This is the fourth year Pickering’s has been the official gin of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The 35cl bottle retails at £20.

16 August 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor