Our Story
The Botanical Engineers
We make Pickering's Gin in the distillery we built ourselves, from scratch, in the heart of Edinburgh. When we opened Summerhall Distillery, it was the first exclusive gin distillery to be established in Edinburgh for over 150 years.
Believe it or not, this multi-award winning gin only came into being in 2013. As fate would have it, Marcus had recently inherited a gin recipe from a friend of his late father. Add to that our mutual penchant for a good gin, and the next step seemed obvious.
Never mind that we didn’t, strictly speaking, have a distillery. We rolled up our sleeves and built one.
Never mind that we had no background in distilling. We tried, tested and experimented until we were experts.
Never mind that everyone told us it couldn’t be done. We got on and did it.
And so began the story of the Botanical Engineers.
Let's take a trip down memory lane
Starting all the way back in 1947, let's look at Pickering's Gin key milestones throughout the years.
- July 1947
The beginning
- March 2014
Pickering's Gin
- July 2014
Navy Strength
- July 2015
Original 1947 Gin
- November 2016
Gin Baubles Launch
- August 2017
Scottish Botanicals
- April 2018
Beijing Gin Bar
- June 2019
Refill Scheme
- April 2020
Lockdown...
- March 2022
Entering Europe
- August 2022
Gin & Tonic Cans
- August 2023
The Speakeasy Experience
- March 2024
A Decade of Pickering's
Pickering's Gin Recipe
Handwritten in India. Handcrafted in Edinburgh.
Pickering’s Gin is based on an original Bombay recipe, dating from 17 July 1947. Kept as a family secret for over 66 years, it only resurfaced when we began distilling at Summerhall in Edinburgh.
The original recipe gave us a gin full of fragrant spices and fresh citrus fruits – just the way they liked it in the days of the Raj. But by 2013, people were expecting a softer, smoother style of gin.
So Matt engineered a bain-marie heating system for our 500 litre copper stills (well of course he did).
This is the secret to our gin’s perfect balance. Once we have carefully prepared and measured our botanicals, we add them to the grain spirit in the stills. Here they enjoy a slow luxurious simmer, which coaxes out their subtle, soft, highly drinkable flavours.
Our award-winning Pickering's Gin is engineered from 9 botanicals: Juniper, coriander, cardamom, angelica (cinnamon in Pickering's Original 1947 edition), fennel, anise, lemon, lime, and cloves.
Pickering's Gin Tours
Pickering's Gin Jolly
Our signature gin distillery tour in Edinburgh where we open the doors to the fascinating and quirky world of Pickering's Gin. See the original Indian recipe written down in 1947 and learn how we make our delicious small batch gins.
Pickering's Gin Chronicles
Enjoy a whistle stop tour of our working gin distillery in Edinburgh before heading up to our boardroom to discover the interesting origins of gin. As we move through time you'll be served a G&T, a classic cocktail and several samples.
Cocktail Craft Masterclass
Guests will explore various spirits each week, ranging from rich whiskies to artisanal gins. Joined by our expert mixologists, you'll learn the intricacies of flavour pairing, crafting three signature cocktails, and the techniques that elevate your drinking experience.
Cheese and Cocktail Masterclass
Guided by our expert mixologist and cheese enthusiast host, you’ll embark on a journey full of flavours that excites the senses and immerses you in the rich local heritage of Edinburgh's Food Scene with both locally crafted spirits and cheese.
The Scottish Explorer
Savour the best of Scotland’s larder in the heart of Edinburgh, from rich, locally smoked salmon and hand-crafted cured meats to traditional farmhouse cheeses. Each bite is perfectly paired with drams of Scotch whisky, locally brewed beers, and small-batch gins
