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Summerhall Distillery – Pickering’s Gin based on a family recipe

The Summerhall Distillery is located on the grounds of an old veterinary clinic, which used to be part of a veterinary college known as ‘Dick Vet’. Summerhall itself is a creative, artistic centre with plenty of room for studios and workshops. Right in the middle is the ‘The Royal Dick’ pub, directly next to the gin distillery – the first in Edinburgh for over 150 years. This explains how gin can be served here directly ‘from the barrel’ via a pipeline.

Production started on 27th March 2014, and since then, Pickering’s Gin has been manufactured following an original recipe from Bombay. Written by hand on a piece of paper dated 17th July 1947, the ‘family secret’ was rediscovered in 2013, as Marcus Pickering and Matthew Gammell set up the distillery. They observed the trend to gin for over five years before developing the idea of their brand and this discovery was the ‘juniper cherry on the cake’, so to speak.

The old recipe was refined and perfected, and the balance of the nine botanicals was adapted to suit contemporary tastes. Juniper, cardamom, coriander, angelica, fennel, aniseed, lemon, lime and cloves are carefully measured out and added to the grain spirit, which awaits the refining process in a 500 litre copper container – nicknamed ‘Gert’. A custom-made water bath heater provides the gentle heat which extracts the subtle aromas from the ingredients.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Pickering’s Gin, Pickering’s Navy Strength Gin, gold for Pickering’s 1947 Gin, and silver for Pickering’s Tattoo Edition Gin.

Aeijst: Making gin an experience

Spelt Aeijst, pronounced ‘eye-st’ – the Styrian dialect word for the branches on which botanicals grow. It is actually a London Dry Gin, but the name Styrian Pale Gin describes its own special style. The simple design of the bottle is reflected in its taste: clear and pure, both inside and out. 25 years ago, Wolfgang Thomann discovered schnapps distilling. With an old copper vat, fruit from his own garden and a few helpers he distilled alcohol for the first time. Since September 2018 there has been a new production site in St. Nikolai im Sausal, with a distillery open for tours and rooms for events and tastings. The centrepiece of the former winegrower’s house is a 400-litre copper vat.

Aeijst Gin is stored for one year in a new French barrique from Vosges, and another year in a rum barrel (18-year-old rum). It is bottled into hand-blown and signed bottles from the Viennese glassworks Comploj, limited to 500 bottles. Following this classic barrel aged gin and some experiments, Aeijst Umbra was created, a new definition of gin. “For us it is the spirit par excellence. Made from organic botanicals and natural spring water, slowly distilled in small batches, and unfiltered. An interpretation that breaks with well-known gin tastes.” New to the product range is Aeijst Peat, the first of its kind in Austria. It is a gin made from juniper berries that were smoked over Styrian peat from the Garanas high moor in western Styria.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Aeijst Peat Gin (Spirit of the Year & World Spirits Award 2021).

LA SU Gin: Exotic holiday feeling in a glass

Alexander Kayser and Christopher Schuh are true gin lovers and founders of the brand LA SU Gin – a registered brand of Expo Outline Messebau und Event GmbH in Altenstadt, with Alexander Kayser as the managing partner.

After exploring many trains of thought, it was clear to both of them that it had to be exotic. LA SU Gin is a premium handcrafted gin with a hint of fruity mango. Distilled in small batches, traditionally and without additives, it is made in one of the oldest distilleries in Europe. The mango gives it a special freshness and balances the tart notes of the spices perfectly. Next to the mango, LA SU evokes a sense of travel. Enjoy a holiday feeling and discover new taste sensations. The elaborate bottle design reflects a love of detail and certainly leaves an impression.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was achieved by LA SU *MGO* Natural Mango.