Two unicorn statues atop the Scotch Whisky Experience on Edinburgh's Royal Mile have been given Gaelic names thanks to a competition which took suggestions from the Scottish public.

The winning names chosen by the public were Deoch and Doras, which comes from the Gaelic phrase "deoch an dorais", meaning "a farewell drink". One of the winners, Archie Hamilton, explained the reasoning behind the name: "Deoch an dorus’ just seemed natural for the Unicorns, our national animal. With Gaelic being our national language, plus the whisky link through the old Harry Lauder song, what better option!"

The competition followed the repair of the two statues, which had lost their horns to time and weather. New horns for the unicorns came as part of a heritage-led restoration of the Scotch Whisky Experience's building. 

Susan Morrison, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Experience, commented: “The building’s recent conservation programme has been guided by a deep respect for our setting next to Edinburgh Castle and a commitment to our role as gateway for the appreciation of Scotland’s national drink and rich cultural heritage. Deoch and Doras now feel not only restored but brought back to life by the public, with names that will interest and spark curiosity in visitors at the threshold for years to come.”

Julie Trevisan Hunter, marketing director at the Scotch Whisky Experience, highlighted how the aim of the competition and restoration was to connect the building with its heritage. She said: “We were genuinely moved by the imagination and thought that people put into naming the unicorns. Many of the more than 1,500 suggestions reflected deep affection for Scotland’s culture, language and folklore, which is exactly the kind of connection we hope to inspire as we bring the world of Scotch whisky to life. ‘Deoch and Doras’ captured something uniquely Scottish while being warm, fun, and rooted in tradition.”