FIRST JOURNEYS - THE HIGHLANDS TRAIL- PIN 19 OF 22
KING'S HILL GIN, Pentland Hills, Midlothian
A JOURNEY EXPLORING THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
Today's journey takes us just south of Edinburgh to the rolling Pentland Hills, where reservoirs, moorland and ancient hills have supplied the city with fresh water for generations.
It is a landscape shaped by nature, but also by centuries of folklore, royal hunts and local legend.
The Pentland Still draws its inspiration from these hills, producing small-batch spirits that celebrate the history and character of the area. Naturally, today's stop called for one of their beautiful bottles.
The inspiration for both their gin and liqueur lies in one of the Pentland Hills' best-known legends.
Since the early nineteenth century, Glencorse Reservoir has supplied Edinburgh with drinking water.
Beneath its waters, however, lie the remains of
St Katherine's Chapel in the Hope, a medieval chapel that occasionally reappears during periods of exceptionally low water, offering a fleeting glimpse into the landscape's past.
Legend tells of a royal hunt during the reign of King Robert the Bruce. The King had long pursued an elusive white stag that always managed to escape his hunters. Confident in his own abilities, Sir William St Clair boldly declared that he and his famous hounds, Help and Hold, could succeed where the King had failed. Bruce accepted the challenge, wagering Sir William's lands against his very life.
To make the contest fair, the King forbade the use of hounds during the search. Sir William reluctantly obeyed, positioning himself nearby while praying to St Katherine for divine assistance. Fate soon intervened.
Disturbed by the King's hunting party, the stag broke cover and ran directly towards Sir William. As the stag reached the March Burn, Sir William, convinced he had lost the wager, threw himself from his horse in despair. At that very moment, his faithful hounds, Help and Hold, turned the stag back across the burn and brought it down, resulting in him winning both the wager and his estate.
In gratitude for his deliverance, Sir William founded
St Katherine's Chapel in the Hope, while the hillside where the hunt is said to have taken place became known as
King's Hill.
Sometimes the best gin stories begin long before the first still is ever fired.
Today's cocktail is inspired by a classic White Lady, but with a few Scottish twists of my own. If you're enjoying this gin with tonic instead, the recommended serve is Mediterranean tonic water.
St William St Clair
- 50ml Pentland Hills Gin
- 25ml King's Hill Rhubarb & Amaretto Gin Liqueur
- 25ml Fresh lemon juice
- 20ml Ginger syrup
- 15ml Blue Curaçao
- Egg white or foamer
Shake well over ice and strain into a chilled glass. If using egg white, dry shake first before adding ice.