Review

Duchess Gin

Speyside Distillery, Drumguish, Aviemore, Perth, Scotland (Harvey’s of Edinburgh International Ltd., County Durham, with offices in Glasgow, Scotland) UK.

Speyside Distillery.

The distillery is built on the site of a disused barley mill dating back to the 18th century, which ceased operating in 1965. The disused barley mill was purchased shortly afterwards by George Christie – a man with a vision. After 25 years of painstaking building, conversion and restoration his vision was opened in late 1990 and named Speyside Distillery. The original Speyside Distillery started in 1895 in Kingussie, 3 miles away from this site, but closed down in 1905.

In late 2012 Speyside Distillers Co. Ltd. was sold to John Harvey McDonough at Harveys of Edinburgh International Ltd. Their key focus is Whisky and exporting to the Far East and other markets e.g. Spain. We shall have to wait and see what happens with Duchess Gin as the future unfolds.

Using a grain base spirit, the botanicals are distilled in a 7,000 liter spirit still made by Forsyth’s of Rothes. The mill sits on the banks of the River Tromie and it makes for a very convenient and wonderful source of water, used in the distillation process. It is said to be nearer to the source of the River Spey than any other distillery in the Speyside Region - a well respected geographical area of excellent Scottish Whisky production).

London Dry Gin.

37.5% (75 Proof).

$$ - $$$. Although this does not appear to be available for sale in the UK or USA markets at present, it may be available in the Far East.

Unknown.

Named after the address of the offices in Glasgow: Duchess Road.

On the nose is juniper and citrus. On the palate the juniper and citrus follows through with a complexity of faint herbal and spice notes, which are hard for us to identify further.

This is a relatively smooth gin and makes a reasonable sipping gin and is fine in a Gin & Tonic or a Martini.

Unknown.