Rock Rose Gin


Distilled in Scotland

Dunnet Bay Distillers

First Produced

2014

Still Type

500 litre vapour infusion still by John Dore & Co.

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Rock Rose Gin

  The Rock Rose Gin Story

Back in August 2014, husband and wife team, Martin and Claire Murray, founded Dunnet Bay Distillery at the spectacular bay of Dunnet in the far North of Scotland.  The couple are passionate about handcrafting spirits that celebrate the heritage and provenance of their home county of Caithness and pride themselves on using local hand-foraged botanicals alongside exotic botanicals from around the world.

This was the inspiration behind their first product – Rock Rose Gin and to say it was an immediate success is something of an understatement. The first batch sold out in under 40 hours.  The second batch sold out in under 24 hours on a waiting list.  And over the months of September to November, the distillery sold all the gin it had forecasted for the entire year! 

Rock Rose Gin continues to receive excellent reviews and numerous taste, business and design awards, with the distillery adding seasonal editions as well as Navy Strength and a Sloe Gin to their range.  

And the popularity of the gins they produce grows year on year. In 2017, they moved into extended premises to double production and move to full-time bottling, along with the addition of a gift shop and visitor centre.

The visitor centre will be a popular attraction for tourists along the North Coast 500 and the company has signed international export agreements, so it looks like this business is set to continue to grow.

So, what is so special about Rock Rose Gin? They were the first gin to use Rhodiola rosea in gin.  This wonderful botanical grows on the local cliffs, and it gives the gin a lovely earthy, Turkish delight flavour to build the unique taste profile on.  On this, they layer citrus, spice, floral notes and sweetness from local berries to create a wonderfully balanced gin.

  Key Botanicals

  • 2 sources of juniper – Italian and Bulgarian
  • Rhodiola rosea
  • Rowan berries
  • Blaeberries
  • Lemon verbena
  • Water mint

  Tasting Notes

A proper gin with lots of juniper on the first sip.  This gives way to the lovely floral notes of the rose root and the sweetness of the bilberries.  The combination of lemon verbena and Bulgarian juniper give it a lemon sherbet-like finish.

The perfect serve for Rock Rose Gin has always been a source of great debate.  Both Martin and Claire have their own opinion:

  • Martin has his with 1 part gin to 2 parts tonic served with toasted rosemary
  • Claire has hers with 1 part gin to 3 parts tonic served with a curl of orange peel.
  • Another option is the best of both.

  Expressions

  • Rock Rose Lavender & Apple Gin - Limited Edition
  • Lassie's Toast Gin - Limited Edition
  • Rock Rose Pink Grapefruit Old Tom Gin
  • Rock Rose Spring Edition
  • Rock Rose Summer Edition
  • Rock Rose Autumn Edition
  • Rock Rose Winter Edition
  • Rock Rose Navy Strength
  • Rock Rose Sloe Gin
  • Clootie Dumping Gin - Limited Edition
  • Mey Selections Gin - Castle of Mey
  • Rock Rose Reserve - Sauternes Cask Edition Gin
  • Rock Rose Jam Donut Gin
  • Rock Rose Reserve Sherry Cask Edition Gin

  Key Personnel

  • Owner and distiller, Martin Murray
  • Owner and design, Claire Murray
  • Rogue dog, Mr. Mackintosh

  Website

  The Scottish Gin Society verdict

Rock Rose has a heady, floral aroma that leaves you longing for a taste. And when you taste it, you are hit by the complexity of the flavour: a perfect blend of sweetness, fruity-ness, floral notes and nice, gin-ny earthiness. Complex, yes, but wonderfully balanced.  We love it with the ‘best of both’ perfect serve, the orange adds to the sweetness and toasted rosemary heightens the wonderful aroma. We’ve tasted this gin many times and are never surprised at its success – it’s a very, very pleasing Scottish Gin with a distinctive flavour that sets it apart.

 

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