Verdant Spirit seeks £20k to open gin school

Dundee-based Verdant Spirit Co – the “first” distillery in the Scottish city in 200 years – is hoping to raise £20,000 (US$25k) to fund the development of a gin school and visitor centre.

Verdant Spirit Co is to launch a crowdfunding campaign to build a gin school

The distillery will soon launch a Crowdfunder campaign to go towards the restoration of the site at Edward Street Mill on Forest Park Place.

The building, which is an 19th century engine house with two floors, has worsened over the last few decades.

With the investment, the distillery also plans to open a retail space and events space upstairs, with a gin school downstairs, open to visitors and corporate parties.

The school will offer options of a half day or a full day with the chance to make a gin.

Verdant Spirit Co was opened in April 2017 by Andrew McKenzie, former marketing director for McLaren Formula 1. The distillery launched its first expression, Verdant Dry Gin, earlier this year.

Looking ahead, McKenzie also plans to release a vermouth, aged rums and an oaked gin in several months. A “soft” white rum with “toffee notes” is also currently in development, with the recipe created in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.