FIRST JOURNEYS - THE HIGHLANDS TRAIL- PIN 09 OF 22
CAORUNN GIN, Cairngorms, Scotland
A JOURNEY EXPLORING THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
Our Scottish gin journey continues through the Cairngorms National Park to Balmenach Distillery, home of Caorunn Gin.
Nestled amongst the Highland landscape, Balmenach has a long and fascinating history.
Originally founded in 1824, it is one of Scotland's oldest licensed distilleries, with production evolving over the centuries through changing ownership and periods of closure.
Today, alongside its whisky heritage, the distillery is known around the world for creating one of Scotland's most distinctive contemporary gins.
Launched in 2009, Caorunn (pronounced ka-roon) takes its name from the Gaelic word for rowan berry—the botanical at the heart of the spirit.
Inspired by the surrounding Highlands, the gin celebrates five locally sourced Celtic botanicals: rowan berry, Coul Blush apple, heather, dandelion and bog myrtle, alongside six traditional gin botanicals.
The connection to its surroundings can be seen throughout the brand, from the Art Nouveau-inspired bottle design to the distinctive red asterisk symbol, representing the five local botanicals that define the gin's character.
Caorunn is handcrafted in small batches by distiller Simon Buley using the world's only working Copper Berry Chamber.
This unique piece of equipment allows the botanicals to be gently infused over a large surface area, helping to extract their flavours and aromas in a slower, more traditional way than many modern methods.
The result is a crisp Highland gin with classic juniper at its core, complemented by fresh fruit and delicate herbal notes from its carefully selected botanicals.
For today's cocktail, I wanted to create something that reflected both Caorunn's berry influence and Balmenach's whisky heritage: a
Caorunn Manhattan.
From centuries-old distilling heritage to innovative botanical techniques, Caorunn is a reminder that Scotland's spirit continues to evolve—while remaining firmly rooted in the landscape that inspires it.
A twist on the classic Sweet Manhattan, it brings together:
- 30ml Caorunn Gin
- 20ml Single Malt Whisky
- 25ml Raspberry-infused White Port
- A couple of dashes of bitters
- A splash of maraschino syrup
Finished with raspberries and maraschino cherries, this serve celebrates the connection between Scotland's whisky traditions and its modern gin revival.