Secret Garden distillery

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Secret Garden Distillery
Secret Garden Distillery Logo.png
Location32A Old Pentland Rd, Lothianburn, Edinburgh EH10 7EA, Scotland, United Kingdom
Coordinates 55°53′04″N3°11′12″W / 55.8845°N 3.1867°W / 55.8845; -3.1867
OwnerImogen Armstrong
Isobel Armstrong
Kate Armstrong [1]
FoundedOctober 2017;8 years ago (2017-10)
FounderHamish Martin
Steve Ross [2]
StatusOperational
No. of stills50 litre alembic
20 litre still
Website secretgardendistillery.co.uk
Location
Secret Garden distillery

The Secret Garden distillery is a gin distillery in Midlothian, near to Edinburgh. It was founded in 2017 as Old Curiosity distillery, taking on its current name in 2021.

Contents

The distillery is open to the public and offers tours and a gin-making experience. [3] In addition to a distillery, the site also operates as a herb garden where botanicals are grown for use in the gins.

History

The company originated as a herb garden project called the Secret Herb Garden, founded by Hamish Martin. Martin had previously worked as a wine merchant and had studied herbology at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. [4] The garden was constructed on a derelict 7.5 acre plot of land in 2012. [5] Martin opened a distillery at the site in 2017, then called the Old Curiosity Distillery. [6]

In January 2020, the distillery created an own-label gin for the Balmoral Hotel called Baile Mhoireil, and that July, the distillery released a gin in partnership with supermarket Aldi, called Eidyn. [7] [8] This was followed by the release of an alcohol-free gin in August 2020, which used lemon balm, yarrow and calendula. [9]

The distillery and gardens were listed for sale in February 2021. [10] At that time, the gardens and distillery were attracting around 20000 visitors per year. [11] Shortly afterwards, the distillery and gins were rebranded to carry the Secret Garden name. [6] The change of name was intended to emphasise the link between the product and the garden from which the botanicals were sourced. [12]

In August 2022, ownership of the distillery and gardens was taken over by the Armstrong family. At the time of the acquisition the distillery was used mainly for contract-distilling; the new owners released a range of gins centred around juniper, angelica, coriander and winter savoury. [13]

At the start of 2023, space in the gardens was repurposed for juniper trees and for a rose garden, in order to increase supply of botanicals for the gins. [14] Subsequently, in May, the company received a grant from Midlothian Council to drill a borehole 12 metres under the site and build a pumping shed, creating a new water source for the distillery. [15]

The gins were rebranded in April 2024, coinciding with the second anniversary of the acquisition by the Armstrongs. [16] In 2025, the company released three expressions to the French market. [17]

References

  1. ↑ "New owners for leading gin brand: Secret Garden Distillery". The Secret Garden Distillery. 24 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "Secret Garden Distillery". Difford's Guide.
  3. ↑ "The Secret's Out". Bar Magazine. 19 March 2024.
  4. ↑ Farr, Jacob (7 February 2022). "Edinburgh Secret Herb Garden inspired by couple's first date magic up for sale". Edinburgh Live.
  5. ↑ "Formerly 'Old Curiosity', the Rebranded Secret Garden Distillery: A Must-Try Scottish Gin". About Drinks. 6 December 2022.
  6. 1 2 Morgan, Colleen (28 April 2021). "André de Almeida takes on Managing Director role at Secret Garden Distillery". The Moodie Davitt Report.
  7. ↑ "Edinburgh's Balmoral Hotel launches new Scottish Gin". The Scottish Gin Society. 29 January 2020.
  8. ↑ Erskine, Rosalind (15 July 2020). "Aldi and Edinburgh's Old Curiosity Distillery team up to launch new Eidyn gin". The Scotsman.
  9. ↑ "Old Curiosity releases first alcohol-free gin". Scottish Local Retailer. 18 August 2020.
  10. ↑ Walker, Peter A (3 February 2021). "Secret Garden Distillery up for sale". Insider.co.uk.
  11. ↑ "Edinburgh's Old Curiosity Distillery lodge expansion plans for visitor centre and tasting room". The Scotsman. 19 January 2021.
  12. ↑ Carruthers, Nicola (29 April 2021). "Old Curiosity Distillery changes name and appoints MD". The Spirits Business.
  13. ↑ Madsen, Miona (12 July 2024). "From seed to sip: The Secret Garden". The Spirits Business.
  14. ↑ Jackson, Luke (10 April 2023). "Secret Garden Distillery Gardens and Gin Tours Reopen". Midlothian View.
  15. ↑ Jackson, Luke (31 May 2023). "Midlothian Council supports Secret Garden Distillery's transition to greener practices". Midlothian View.
  16. ↑ Madsen, Miona (11 December 2024). "Spirit Master: Secret Garden Gin". The Spirits Business.
  17. ↑ Carruthers, Nicola (11 July 2025). "Secret Garden Distillery heads to France". The Spirits Business.
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