True Community Spirit embodies the town of Linlithgow

When Alyson and Ross Jamieson decide to make a gin that embodies their home town of Linlithgow, they canvassed for tasters to help shape the spirit. They had applicants from Linlithgow, the surrounding towns of West Lothian, even Edinburgh, Fife and Glasgow. The panel was eventually whittled down to 98, with 25 super-tasters.

The result is LinGin from Linlithgow Distillery, a truly smooth and very drinkable London dry gin.

Using traditional Gin botancials with a mix of locally foraged ones, such as meadowsweet, which reminds you of coriander; and resourced ones from around the surrounding areas of the Canal, Linlithgow Loch and surrounding countryside. There is one secret ingredient that complements all the carefully sourced botanicals.

The first batch was released on 1st January and sold out in hours. Batch 4 is scheduled to be bottled just after Valentine’s Day. Their state of the art still – Gleann Iucha is certainly being put to work under their watchful eyes, ensuring each batch meets their exacting standards.

The bottle reflects the historical Linlithgow skyline, and took some time to source thanks to its sculptural shape. It is a particularly tactile bottle, and one I am sure mixologists will love working with.

We discussed the perfect serve at length, and the Jamiesons want the consumer to make up their own minds. The one they do suggest – try it with a light tonic.

I was very lucky to be gifted one of the first bottles from Batch 3, and this is a very drinkable zesty, dry gin, aromatic with a mix of botanicals coming through.

It starts off with citrus notes, but with a slightly warming spicy finish. It has a smooth mouth feel and can be easily savoured neat. I mixed it with Bon Accord, garnished with frozen orange peel that really enhanced the citrus, and made it that bit punchier.

If this is the true taste of Linlithgow, then LinGin reflects a beautiful and vibrant town perfectly!   Get your hands on some here.