Suprisingly enough, the answer is yes. When we were at Stirling Castle and touring the little town, we discovered a gin distillery called Stirling Distillery. Housed in a little house on a street corner, this unassuming building houses a wonderful boutique gin maker.
Walking inside we were greeted by Brice Ledingham in charge of sales and events. For over two hours he introduced us to the history of gin, the distillery process and how the alcohol gets infused with various flavors. I like gin because the clear liquid is pure and doesn’t influence my taste and smell sensations. We tasted three varieties and each had a different affect on the palette in terms of smoothness or sharpness. The aromas of orange, plum and thyme were often present including of course juniper berries. Curiously with the addition of tonic, the tastes and aromas changed often causing the drink to become smoother. So choose your tonic wisely and sparingly they say. And those ice cubes? Ice usually absorbs the flavors of the gin and doesn’t bring it out.
Brice also explained that the major brands of gin makers in the UK distill their gin in Scotland! Who would have guessed? What happened to Whisky? So I figure, why go to those fake British Gin makers like Beefeaters and go straight to the source, Stirling Distillery! This place is well worth the visit. Thank you Brice!
