Pickerings gin Review – Gin from the heart of Edinburgh, and a delicious 1947 recipe from Bombay.

Edinburgh’s gin scene has almost become a bit of a fad. Edinburgh Gin was established in 2010, Lind and Lime in 2018 and Height of Arrows in 2021. While the Pickerings brand only came into being when they established their gin distillery, they were the first for over 150 years. Their recipe, too, was developed in 1947. 

Now, that’s heritage. 

Situated in the famous Summerhall, right in the heart of Edinburgh, Pickerings have been one of the most popular gins to come out of Edinburgh. Today, we’re giving them a shot to see whether they stand up against the other fantastic gins produced in Edinburgh. 

After reading this review, we’ve broken down what we think are the best Scottish gins. It is a comprehensive guide, including our favourites, of all the gin we’ve tried (and that is a lot).

About Summerhall & Pickerings Gin. 

Pickering’s Gin is a small‑batch Scottish gin distilled in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the Summerhall Distillery in the heart of the city. It was launched in 2013 by two friends, Marcus Pickering and Matthew Gammell. They turned the former Royal (Dick) Veterinary School site into Scotland’s first dedicated gin distillery in over 150 years. 

The gin review. 

The gin was written down in Mount Mary, Bombay, in 1947, and has been lovingly recreated using a modern gin distillery. The marketing around the gin brands portrays it as smooth and refreshing, with a spicy twist. What do we think? 

Nose

On the nose, the spirit is right away very complex. There is a little juniper nip that is lightly scented with sweet spice. Soft notes of cinnamon, aniseed, and cardamom. As you may expect, with its colonial indian herritage, this gin leans heavily into spice. 

The taste

Up front, the gin is very fresh and floral. There is an almost minty quality to the gin that dissolves into a bowl of crushed spice. Huge notes of cinnamon right up front, tangy sweet liquorice notes from the star anise and fennel. While the big hitting notes are earthy and spicy, the gin is not harsh or bitter – it takes on an almost sweet and savoury character that swills deliciously around the palate. The gin is very smooth and easy to drink. 

The Verdict 9/10

Maybe just my personal preference, but I adore this gin from Pickerings. It has somehow captured the sweet, hot, spicy air of Bombay, with the sweet and summery notes that are iconic in Edinburgh dry gins. Without doubt, this is one of the very best gins I’ve yet to try from Edinburgh, and very happy I did. 

I had half expected this 1947 recipe to be left in the past, but it still stands up as an exceptional gin, even in today’s busy market. 

Cocktail ideas. 

You may have heard of a Rapple (Rum and Apple), but I would recommend turning this into a Gin and Apple. It’s not traditional, but works really well. I made my drink with tart but sweet apple juice with equil amount of gin. The warming spices of cinnamon and liquorice shine through wonderfully. 

Final thoughts

Overall, Pickerings gin is very good. Highly recommended. If you’re in Edinburgh, you can visit them for a tour, or pick up one of their gins in a local shop or super market.