2024 Summerhall Distillery Wrapped

 Can you believe we're approaching the end of 2024! The team are tying up all loose ends with a bow before we shut down for Christmas and New Year. A reminder that our office, distillery and shop will be closed from Monday 23rd December to Thursday 2nd January. We will resume normal working hours on Friday 3rd of January.

We will be open on the 27th of December for two Pickering's Gin Jolly & Distillery Tours at 3:30pm and 5:30pm, if you fancy venturing out during the Crimbo Limbo. 

Now, lets look back at what an incredible year 2024 was at Summerhall Distillery.

January 

Dry January? Never heard of her... We started the year strong with distillery bottling plenty of Pickering's Gin and The Broody Hen Scotch Whisky. Preparing for Burns Night, we decided to get a little creative and made the first ever (we believe) Haggis Gin.

Matt created this masterpiece using our miniature still with real haggis (freshly caught) and freshly crushed botanicals. It was then given to the team for a taste test... and it received mixed reviews. It definitely had a nice spice to it, so who knows maybe it'll make a permanent return next year. 

February

In February we established a brand new partnership with The Scott and Scholar Hotel! We became their office gin and whisky provider, and to celebrate we put together the ultimate Valentines giveaway. 

We even have our own Pickering's Gin Terrace at The Scholar, where you can sip on your favourite Pickering's Gin serves throughout the seasons.

March

Pickering's Gin hit 10 years old! A full decade of crafting excellence within the spirit industry. We threw a party in the distillery with some old and new friends, we had a big online sale to celebrate our birthday, we hit the street of Edinburgh in our Pickering's Fire Engine to hand out free Pickering's Gin and Tonic Cans, and we surprised our top local customers with Pickering's Gin hampers as a thank you for their unwavering support. Cheers to the next 10 years!

April

We pulled a little prank on the 1st of April saying that we collaborated with Sriracha to create our very own hot sauce. We told everyone that we were combining our renowned Original 1947 Gin with the signature flavours of Sriracha, we've crafted a uniquely fiery blend that will tantalise your taste buds. Making it essential for any condiment shelf! 

As much as we wished this was true, we had to break the news that it was just an April's fools! Never know what could happen in the future though...

May

Since 2017, we've proudly partnered with Cunard Cruises to craft the iconic and renowned 3 Queen's Gin range: Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. As the Cunard fleet grows, it's only fitting that the gin range evolves alongside it.

With the exciting introduction of the Queen Anne liner, we've taken the opportunity to rebrand and expand the gin collection, now proudly known as Cunard 4 Queens Gin.

The Queen Anne Gin was crafted to pay homage to the rich heritage of the British Isles with a herbaceous blend featuring milk thistle, heather, and zesty sea buckthorn. This is harmoniously balanced with the sweetness of Queen Anne rose petals and blackcurrant leaves.

June

In June we proudly partnered up with Tarquins Gin, Manchester Gin, Mason of Yorkshire and Brighton Gin to be part of their #ActuallyMadeIn campaign. This campaign aims to elevate the presence of craft distilleries and their associated brands, but also contribute to the movement of supporting local businesses to survive and thrive.

We want to encourage consumers to think about where spirits come from, and consider craft distilleries when making purchase decisions. Most of all, we want to shine a light on hard-working distilleries and their teams who are crafting amazing spirits day in, day out.

July

We decided it was time to give our Pickering's Gin Workshop a facelift, with a full renovation before The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This workshop has been a museum for all things Pickering's and a core part of our Gin Jolly & Distillery Tour, and it was time to give it a facelift. 

The team here at Summerhall Distillery are extremely multi-talented which is why we created everything ourselves (much like how our distillery was built), from the wall structures, lighting, shelves, and the application and decoration of all elements. We documented this transformation across our socials - Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok. 

The workshop has all of our ginventions scattered across the room, along with, a Pickering's Gin timeline across the last decade, an impressive bottle display, stories of our creative partnerships, and some of our accolades. 

August

We brought back our sell-out Speakeasy Experience for Edinburgh's Fringe Festival 2024! This was our second year with our show, and it was another huge success! Tucked away from the bustling courtyard, The Speakeasy Experience invites guests to embark on a journey to a bygone era, where Prohibition ruled the land and underground bars flourished. Upon discovering the secret workshop entrance, guests will give the password to the host to gain access to our underground cocktail bar. 

We run this speakeasy experience once a month outside of The Edinburgh Fringe Festival if you missed it this year! We also might be adding some news shows next year, so keep your eyes peeled.

September

We became one of the five headline distilleries to be featured in Forever Edinburgh's 'Meet Edinburgh's Makers: Brewers and Distillers edition. This campaign is a celebration of the incredible breadth of businesses across the city which make Edinburgh a unique and world-class visitor destination – starting with Brewers and Distillers.

The map showcases distillers of all sizes with fascinating tours and tastings, breweries with vibrant tap rooms, the city’s best pubs and bars, knowledgeable specialist bottle shops and unique drinks attractions. There really is something for everyone’s tastes.

October

Edinburgh Cocktail Week kicked off the middle of October and we partnered up with the One Square Bar in the Sheraton to create a delicious and sustainable £5 cocktail. Introducing the Sandia Cosmo: crafted with our Coldsnap Vodka, part of our 7 Steps to Sustainability closed-loop program, and mixed with a refreshing homemade watermelon cordial and mint-infused sugar syrup. It’s all shaken together for a vibrant, mouthwatering cocktail you won’t want to miss! 

November

For years we've had the same question over and over again. When are the Pickering's Gin Baubles coming back? So, this year we brought back our Baubles but as a festive workshop. You would craft two delicious cocktails, decide which cocktail you preferred and filled 3 baubles with the ingredients. You'd take your baubles home, hang them on your Christmas tree and enjoy two Christmas tipples on the day.

It was also the month where we brought back our Brussels Sprout Gin for the fourth year and we sold out of our first batch within two days! Our subsequent batches also sold out in quick succession, making it our fastest selling product of the year, and getting featured in the Mirror for their 12 drinks of Christmas article.

December

To end an extremely busy year we decided take Ginette (the smallest mobile gin bar) for a spin to the storefront of Vino in Stockbridge to spread some Christmas spirit! We also put together a Pickering's Gin advent calendar on North Bridge, with interactive door that open each day - you still have a few days left to see it!

On top of this we sold out of our award winning Sloe Gin, so we decided to bring back our original recipe and signature wax top seal for 200 bottles. 

That was a jam packed year for us at Summerhall Distillery. Whether you've been here from the beginning or are a new face, we want to thank you so much for your support! We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.