FIRST JOURNEYS - THE HIGHLANDS TRAIL- PIN 18 OF 22
EDINBURGH GIN DISTILLERY, Edinburgh, Scotland
A JOURNEY EXPLORING THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
Some bottles celebrate a place. Others celebrate a moment in history.
This limited-edition release from Edinburgh Gin was created to mark the 350th anniversary of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, affectionately known as The Botanics.
More than simply commemorating the occasion, it pays tribute to the garden's remarkable beginnings by recreating a selection of the botanicals grown in Scotland's very first Physic Garden over three centuries ago.
Founded in 1670 by physicians Sir Andrew Balfour and Sir Robert Sibbald, the original Physic Garden was established near Holyrood Palace as a living classroom, where apprentice doctors could learn to identify medicinal plants and understand their healing properties. It was a modest collection of herbs and remedies, yet from these humble beginnings grew one of the world's leading botanical gardens and centres for plant science, horticulture and conservation.
The inspiration for this gin reaches back to 1683, when the Garden's first Keeper,
James Sutherland, published Hortus Medicus Edinburgensis—Scotland's earliest catalogue of a botanical collection. Listing around 3,000 plants growing in the Physic Garden, it became
the blueprint for this commemorative release, with Edinburgh Gin selecting several of the classic botanicals recorded within its pages to create a spirit that celebrates both botanical history and modern distilling.
It is a fitting partnership. After all, gin has always been where science meets craftsmanship.
Edinburgh Gin has long embraced the belief that great distilling combines creativity with precision, while The Botanics continues its centuries-old mission of studying and understanding the natural world.
It's a beautifully balanced gin, with classic juniper leading the way, supported by aromatic herbal notes that feel entirely at home in a garden inspired by medicinal plants. I kept the serve simple, pairing it with an elderflower tonic and a delicate lime rose garnish.
There have been several collaborations between distilleries and Britain's historic botanic gardens over the years. Kew Gardens has its own celebrated gin, while The Oxford Artisan Distillery produced a Physic Gin inspired by the Oxford Botanic Garden, founded in 1621. Each offers its own interpretation of botanical history, proving that some of the most fascinating gin stories began long before the spirit itself.
This story is about the origins of botany, medicine and the very plants that have defined gin for centuries.
Today's serve reminds us that long before botanicals found their way into our favourite G&Ts, they were being carefully cultivated to heal, educate and inspire.
This bottle celebrates that enduring connection between nature, science and the art of distilling.
Garden G&T
- 50ml Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Gin
- Elderflower tonic water
- Garnish with a lime rose