FIRST JOURNEYS - THE HIGHLANDS TRAIL- PIN 10 OF 22
ZEALOT'S HEART GIN, BrewDog Distilling Co, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
A JOURNEY EXPLORING THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
Our Scottish gin journey takes us next to BrewDog Distilling Co., a name many will recognise from the world of craft beer, but whose ambitions have always stretched far beyond the brewery.
Known for challenging convention, BrewDog brought that same spirit of experimentation to their distilling projects, creating spirits with the same focus on quality, creativity and attention to detail that made their beers famous.
For this stop, the spotlight falls on Zealot's Heart Gin—a gin built around one simple belief: that juniper should always be at the centre of the story.
As BrewDog put it, “It's in juniper that we trust”, and this philosophy shaped every part of the gin's creation.
The recipe uses an exceptionally high proportion of juniper alongside carefully selected botanicals, with the team refining the recipe through numerous trials before arriving at the final expression.
The result is a bold, juniper-led gin that celebrates the very foundation of the spirit. Even the bottle design reflects this obsession, with its apothecary-inspired shape nodding to gin's historical roots while the striking blue glass gives it a distinctly modern identity.
For the cocktail, I couldn't resist creating something with a little drama.
Inspired by Difford's Smoke of Scotland, I adapted the original whisky-based recipe into a gin-forward serve and created the Smoking Heart.
Of all the cocktails created during this Scottish journey, this one remains a favourite. Bold, aromatic and with just the right amount of drama, it feels like the perfect match for a gin created with such passion and precision.
Atlas Note:
Since this original journey was written in 2020, BrewDog has moved away from spirit production and BrewDog Distilling Co. is no longer producing its gin range. Zealot’s Heart remains a snapshot of an exciting chapter in Scotland’s modern craft gin story—a period when breweries and distillers were experimenting, challenging traditions and creating new interpretations of this remarkable spirit.
A gin made by zealots, for zealots—and one that certainly leaves an impression.
Smoking Heart
Made with:
- 60ml Zealot's Heart Gin
- 15ml Dry White Port
- 15ml St-Germain
- 5ml Cynar
Stir over ice until beautifully chilled, then serve with a flamed grapefruit peel rose. The flaming grapefruit isn't just for theatre—it releases the oils from the peel and adds the smoky character that brings the whole cocktail together.