With their bespoke bottle launching in the summer of 2020, The Pentland Still Distillery made a significant investment in their brand. For a small distillery, it shouldn’t go understated. Taking inspiration from Norse mythology, Hrafn Gin is the brainchild of two brothers – Callum and Peter Sim. The award-winning Valhall Gin is their ultra-premium expression and the higher strength sibbling to Thought & Memory – both of which have beautiful sweet mandarin as their signature botanical.

Here in the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands we’re surroundedby some of the finest natural scenery on earth, in fact it's hard to beat the views around Balmenach Distillery. But its not just the surroundings that make our home a rather incredible place, the Scottish landscape is also rich in extraordinary natural resources. So, with our 10-year anniversary on the horizon and an ambition to bring something new to our collection, we didn’t have to look far.There is no BS here and with that I would opt for a no BS Negroni that puts a big cheeky grin on my face!” Staying true to our existing process means that Caorunn Scottish Raspberry combines the invigorating dry, crisp taste of Caorunn yet is enhanced by a natural raspberry sweetness. Why it's #NotPink Julian Vallis says:“I like Achroous because of it breaking the mould by being a ‘sessionable’ gin with an Old Tom character, despite it having no added sugar. Disclosure: Katie was previously sent a miniature of Biggar Strength Gin, but was so impressed she bought a full bottle after tasting!

These are foraged by master distiller Simon Buley from the countryside around the Highland distillery. The local ingredients are supported by 6 traditional botanicals which you’ll find in many gins, namely juniper, coriander seed, orange peel, lemon peel, angelica root and cassia bark. Distillation Nic’s Gin & Beer says:“For me, Valhall is quite exceptional. It was designed as a sipping gin, so simply serve over ice and enjoy. It’s glorious, smooth, full of juniper, a little spice and some sweetness from the mandarins… I adore it. I’d happily recommend anything from Hrafn but this is their standout for me. Try it in their Smoked Negroni and prepare to have your mind blown!”Caorunn Gin uses 11 botanicals in its recipe but the brand centres around its five foraged Celtic ingredients: Launching in July 2018, King’s Hill Gin takes its name from a bet between King Robert the Bruce and Sir William ‘The Crusader’ Sinclair, which took place in the Pentland Hills, where the distillery is based. Made with 12 botanicals including the locally foraged gorse, heather, wild rosehip and elderflower. The second expression from Raven Spirits to make it onto our list, like its sister expression, Hrafn Thought & Memory features mandarin as its signature botanical. Like Valhalla, Thought & Memory is multi-award-winning, with gold medals at the International Gin Masters (2018 and 2020) and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The juniper is beautifully balanced, and lingers purposefully behind those bold red fruits, with suggestions of a rich and warming sweet spice. It works brilliantly as a G&T, with a fresh raspberry garnish. The tonic pulls forward a little more sweetness, whilst maintaining the strong raspberry flavour, putting a delicate and floral touch on a classic. We’re incredibly proud to be introducing our very first flavoured gin just ahead of our 10-year anniversary of Caorunn gin, here at Balmenach Distillery. Caorunn Scottish Raspberry leverages the same trusted process that has made Caorunn gin such a success over the last decade. This process, paired with the unique infusion of Perthshire raspberries has allowed us to create a bright, clean and fruity gin that we’re incredibly proud to be adding to our range.”Simon Buley, Gin Master How to enjoy it The result - to mark our upcoming 10-year-anniversary we are thrilled to reveal that we're launching our very first flavoured gin: Caorunn Scottish Raspberry. Crafted to perfectionLaunched in 2017, Hills & Harbour is distilled in the southwest Scotland, and is one of the few grain to glass distilleries in the country – meaning they make their own base spirit from scratch. While the original Caorunn Gin is one of Scotland’s best known and loved gins, it’s the recently launched Caorunn Raspberry that The Gin Shelf has selected as one of his top Scottish gins. Made with 17 botanicals including its signature ingredient, carageen seaweed (also known as Irish moss), foraged on the island, Barra Atlantic Gin helps transports you to the Outer Hebridean island – and the most westerly distillery in the country. Julian Vallis says:“Tobermory throws the notion of a traditional gin out the window and just lets the malty base shine through with absolutely no effort to hide the fact this comes from a whisky distillery.