Linlithgow Distillery gains funding for expansion

Scottish gin producer Linlithgow Distillery has moved to a larger site and invested in a second 500-litre still after receiving a £4,000 (US$4,900) grant.

Linlithgow Distillery co-founders Alyson and Ross Jamieson

Based in Linlithgow, West Lothian, the distillery was founded by local couple Alyson and Ross Jamieson in March 2017 and has doubled its turnover in the first year.

The business has now received a Growth Assistance Grant from Business Gateway West Lothian, allowing it to move across the road to a new site double in size, which will mean the distillery can host tasting sessions and tours in the future.

The distillery’s first batch of LinGin, made using a 100-litre still, was produced in January 2018 at its original site in Mill Road Industrial Estate, Linlithgow Bridge.

The expression is made with ingredients such as meadowsweet, cubeb, and bitter orange, along with three ‘secret botanicals’.

Over the last 12 months, the couple have received ongoing support from Business Gateway West Lothian, in areas including product development and export guidance.

Linlithgow Distillery has recently launched a new range of flavoured gins, called Four Marys, which is inspired by the four ladies-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots.

The range includes Four Marys Zesty Sherbet, Four Marys Bonny Bramble and Four Marys Forever Fresh. The final bottling, Four Marys Subtly Spiced, will launch at the end of this month.

Alyson Jamieson said: “The success of LinGin and the great feedback we’re receiving on our Four Marys gins has been fantastic.

“Demand has grown quite literally by the month as word spread. Orders increased and the realisation that we really had created something quite special became apparent.

“We’re both full-time on the business now and enjoying every minute of it, particularly the local foraging around the loch and nearby canals where I grew up and taking our gins on tour to events and trade fairs to get face-to-face feedback.”