Makar Original Dry Gin (Scotland) / 43% / 0.7l

Makar Gin is a product of Glasgow Distillery Company, the first licensed distillery in the city for over a hundred years, founded in 2012 by Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward and Ian McDougall.

The distillery, which has four stills (one dedicated exclusively to gin), first distilled gin in 2014, and whiskey a year later. The distillery is considered to be the successor to the Dundashill Distillery, which operated nearby from 1770 to 1902. Makar Gin (the word “makar” is Gaelic for “poet”) debuted in 2014 and is Glasgow’s first “modern” gin. It uses a base of wheat spirit distilled on-site, and its formula lists eight botanicals: juniper berries, fresh rosemary, black pepper, coriander seed, liquorice, cassia bark, angelica root and fresh lemon. Makar Original Dry Gin has won several major accolades, including a silver medal at the 2019 International Wine & Spirits Competition.

Makar Original Dry is advertised by the producer as a "juniper-led gin" and indeed, juniper and pine elements lead the aromatic and flavor palette. The whole is dry, some fresh herbs, licorice, eucalyptus and a pleasant pepper note. We recommend serving with classic tonic and a slice of lime or in a Martinez cocktail.