Get to know Scotland's The Bothy Experience
IAN STALKER
Scotland’s The Bothy Experience is willing to help tourists learn about the finer points of an alcohol that may not come immediately to mind when they think of the part of the world that they’re vacationing in.
The business — found in the village of Glamis — produces gin and regularly hosts gin tastings for both individual travellers and groups in a land commonly associated with whiskey.
And, says The Bothy Experience’s Lynn Finlay, creating gin was a natural progression for a company that started by making jam, which left it with what she says was an abundance of fruit juice, which staff decided to use to produce gin.
The Bothy Experience — the name of which comes from Scottish word bothy, used to describe a rural shelter — is open year-round, Thursday to Sunday, and will open Monday to Wednesday for private groups. Gin tastings for both independent travellers and groups can be arranged.
Tastings are available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Finlay suggesting that 11 a.m. isn’t too early to enjoy the spirit.
“We always say it’s gin o’clock somewhere in the world,” she states.
The Bothy Experience — located in old stone houses — says it “starts with a short history lesson as you make your own way through some rooms where their history is presented.”
Visitors are advised a gin tasting “is a great way to get a taste of several types of gin. It will increase your spirit and put you in a good mood.”
Currently available is the Classic Gin Bothy Tasting, which features four full strength Gin Bothy gins/liqueurs, each served with mixers and garnish.
Among served brands is the curiously named Gunshot Gin, described as a “full strength sipping gin infused with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and spice giving a rich, smooth, honey texture. Hand numbered and hand bottled, this is a true artisan, indulgent gin, created to give you a warm glow. Sip on the rocks or with some ginger ale.”
The company plans to launch its Spirits of the Bothy tasting in late 2024 or early 2025, which will “include four spirits, such as our full strength Gin Bothy gins, Spiced Bothy Rum and our whisky liqueur.”
Afternoon tea is also available for those who don’t want alcohol. The Bothy Experience also continues to produce jam, including intriguing chilli jam, with it and other The Bothy Experience products sold on site.
Meanwhile, Finlay says it makes perfect sense to produce and sell gin in Scotland, quickly associated throughout the world with whiskey while many view gin as quintessentially English.
In fact, gin shouldn’t be viewed as strictly English or strictly Scottish, Finlay says.
“It’s just a British product,” she says. “We are all about tradition and heritage.”
More information can be found at bothyexperience.co.uk.
