Bothy Trading, the company behind Scottish gin brand Gin Bothy, has revealed plans to build a single malt whisky distillery. The announcement comes with the release of Bothy’s first whisky products under new brand Gunshot.
The distillery is located in Glen Prosen, at the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Distillation at the Bothy Distillery is due to begin in spring 2025, and a yet-to-be-announced “renowned” master blender brought on board.
To Kim Cameron, founder of Bothy Trading, the distillery “is about more than whisky”. The vision, she explained, is “about creating a place where people can connect with Scotland’s natural beauty and heritage.”
Cameron continued: “I grew up in the glen neighbouring Glen Prosen and so I know how special the areas is. With just one road in and one road out this remote location is one of a kind. Its seclusion and natural beauty provide the perfect backdrop for crafting spirits that truly capture the essence of Scotland, while allowing us to champion sustainability and preserve the landscape for future generations.”
Cameron founded the Gin Bothy in 2015. The gin brand gained international attention during the 96th Academy Awards, when its Original Gin was included in gift bags given to Oscar-nominated actors. Cameron has previously called for greater protection for Scottish gin, in line with the protections in place for Scotch whisky.
The new Bothy Distillery has been developed with sustainability in mind — hydroelectricity will be used, and sustainable waste removal processes established. The distillery, which expects to produced 300 casks annually on site, will also have an “immersive whisky retreat” for visitors.
Cameron continued: “Everything about the Glen and the distillery is in synergy with our Bothy values of history and heritage, respecting nature’s calendar with a focus on seasonality and sustainability — the botanicals for our gin are foraged in the Angus hills, and our whisky uses locally grown barley.”
The land the distillery is situated on is managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), which aims to use the buildings within the glen to create jobs and benefit the local community and economy.
Reflecting on the distillery's home, Cameron added: “The land surrounding our distillery is rich with inspiration, from the wild heather to the untouched beauty of the glen. To honour this, we’re introducing beehives to produce heather honey, which will infuse a true taste of the landscape into the whisky crafted here.”
FLS Angus Glens programme manager Christine Reid commented: “We are excited to welcome the Gin Bothy into Glen Prosen. The business has strong local roots that will only be enhanced by moving to the Glen and we anticipate that this new venture will support existing and new jobs in the area as well as fostering sustainable tourism.”
Ahead of the distillery beginning operations in the new year, Bothy has released two whisky products under its new Gunshot range, which includes a blended Scotch whisky and a whisky liqueur. Bothy said that the eight-year-old Gunshot Blended Scotch Whisky has notes of vanilla, toffee apples, honey, pears, and black pepper. The Gunshot Scotch Whisky Liqueur has a spiced flavour profile with notes of cinnamon, clove, and orange.
For more information, visit ginbothy.co.uk.
