The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte hotel in Edinburgh, has launched its first premium own-label Scottish gin ‘Baile Mhoireil’. In partnership with The Old Curiosity Distillery, the hotel has thoughtfully created a gin inspired by the breathtaking Scottish landscapes, embodying the country’s well-loved culture and spirit.
Every detail has been considered, from the Gaelic name translating to ‘Majestic Dwelling’, in honour of the grandeur of the property located in the heart of Edinburgh, to the bottle design and the perfect serve.
Baile Mhoireil features a string of local botanicals including rosemary, dill, sage, chamomile, anise and lemon verbena, all hand harvested exclusively from The Old Curiosity Distillery, located just 6 miles from the hotel, to create a unique and refreshing flavour with hints of subtle citrus notes. The zesty spirit drinks perfectly when served with tonic, dried grapefruit, a sprig of rosemary and a spritz of lemon verbena.
The partnership grew naturally and has been two years in the making, with The Balmoral and The Old Curiosity Distillery bringing together an incredible gin recipe, botanicals, knowledge and vision.
Cameron Matthews, The Balmoral’s Gin Ambassador, said, ‘It’s a real pleasure to serve a quality gin like Baile Mhoireil in Bar Prince. It was our vision to create a sustainable gin while supporting this incredible local supplier. Gin has become a very popular spirit and we are seeing more discerning customers asking for a specific flavour profile.
'After two years of development with the Old Curiosity Distillery it has been a privilege to create our own spirit in order to meet the needs of our guests. The bottle design is a nod to the hotel’s history and will also make for a beautiful memento for our guests.’
Hamish Martin, Scottish Herbologist and Owner and Founder of The Secret Herb Garden and The Old Curiosity Distillery, said, ‘We are so proud to partner up with The Balmoral to create this truly beautiful gin - it has taken time, many experiments and a passion to deliver and as we are only 6 miles away, it doesn’t get more local than that. It is also brilliant to be able to showcase what botanics can be grown here in Edinburgh.
'It is wonderful to share so many values; sustainable, provenance and of course allowing nature to thrive naturally, completely free from any chemicals. We hope you enjoy this gin as much as we have enjoyed growing, harvesting, drying, distilling and bottling it.’
To celebrate the launch of Baile Mhoireil, The Balmoral is offering a new gin tasting experience with cocktails devised by the hotels very own Gin Ambassador. Guests can purchase a bottle of Baile Mhoireil to take home from Bar Prince located in The Balmoral hotel, retailing at £12.50 for a 5cl bottle or £47.50 for a 50cl bottle.