T he Balmoral hotel in Edinburgh has launched its first own-label Scottish gin, named Baile Mhoireil, in partnership with The Old Curiosity Distillery.
The Gaelic name translates as Majestic Dwelling in honour of the landmark Rocco Forte-owned property located on Princes Street.
It is made with botanicals harvested the capital's Secret Herb Garden, including rosemary, dill, sage, chamomile, anise and lemon verbena. The gin is described as having a "unique and refreshing flavour with hints of subtle citrus notes" and is intended to be served with tonic, dried grapefruit, a sprig of rosemary and a spritz of lemon verbena.
Cameron Matthews, The Balmoral’s Gin Ambassador, said: ‘It’s a real pleasure to serve a quality gin like Baile Mhoireil in Bar Prince. It was our vision to create a sustainable gin while supporting this incredible local supplier. Gin has become a very popular spirit and we are seeing more discerning customers asking for a specific flavour profile.
"After two years of development with the Old Curiosity Distillery it has been a privilege to create our own spirit in order to meet the needs of our guests. The bottle design is a nod to the hotel’s history and will also make for a beautiful memento for our guests.’
Hamish Martin, herbologist and owner and founder of The Secret Herb Garden and The Old Curiosity Distillery, said: "We are so proud to partner up with The Balmoral to create this truly beautiful gin - it has taken time, many experiments and a passion to deliver and as we are only six miles away, it doesn’t get more local than that."
