FIRST JOURNEYS - THE HIGHLANDS TRAIL- PIN 11 OF 22
HOUSE OF ELRICK GIN, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
A JOURNEY EXPLORING THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
Our next stop takes us to Aberdeenshire, where history, heritage and a little entrepreneurial adventure come together at House of Elrick.
Few gin stories begin with a Dragon.
In 2018, founder Stuart Ingram appeared on Dragons’ Den and received an £80,000 investment offer from Peter Jones. However, following a misunderstanding over what was being offered, Stuart ultimately decided not to accept the investment. Instead, he continued building House of Elrick independently, raising funds through crowdfunding while retaining ownership of the land, house and business he had spent years developing.
Founded in 2016, House of Elrick began its journey by producing its gin at Gorilla Spirits, before moving into its own on-site distillery. The vision was always about more than creating a bottle of gin—it was about restoring the historic Elrick estate and creating a destination where visitors could experience the story, landscape and heritage behind the spirit.
Elrick House was built in 1720, during the period of the Scottish Enlightenment—a time when curiosity, reason and new ideas were transforming society. Across Europe, thinkers, artists and philosophers were questioning the world around them, exploring advances in science, politics, medicine and the arts. Elrick became part of this movement, hosting gatherings where some of the most influential minds of the time could exchange ideas.
Over the centuries, the estate has gathered its own collection of stories and legends. One of the most famous visitors associated with Elrick is Bonnie Prince Charlie, who is said to have gifted the estate its Jacobite rose, which can still be found growing in the walled gardens today.
That rose became a key part of the House of Elrick identity. Look closely at the matt blue bottle and you’ll see the Jacobite rose at the centre of the design, surrounded by a Celtic knot and a keyhole symbol.
The keyhole represents enlightenment—the unlocking of the mind and the search for knowledge—while the Celtic knot represents life, connection and eternity.
These ideas form the foundation of House of Elrick: a celebration of history, curiosity and the belief that every story continues to evolve.
The gin itself reflects the surrounding landscape, combining botanicals including rose petals, orange, lemon, heather, pink peppercorns and sweet fennel, alongside water sourced from Loch Ness.
These ingredients are distilled in their 500-litre copper pot still, affectionately named “Charlie”, creating a smooth, floral and complex gin with a distinctly Scottish character.
From Enlightenment thinkers and Jacobite legends to a modern Scottish distillery, House of Elrick is a reminder that every bottle carries the stories of the people, places and ideas that inspired it.
To celebrate the rose at the heart of the story, today’s cocktail is a Rosetini.
Made with:
- 50ml House of Elrick Gin
- 25ml Lanique Rose Petal Liqueur
Elegant, floral and beautifully simple, this martini-style serve allows the character of the gin to shine. If you prefer a little more balance, a touch of lime juice adds a refreshing citrus note.