19 Scottish Gins, Vodkas, And Rums That Everyone Must Drink

There's more to Scotland than Scotch.

Rebecca Hendin / BuzzFeed / Strathearn Distillery / Peel Farm

1. Dark Matter Spiced Rum

darkmatterdistillers.com / Via Facebook: 374829705926432

This richly spiced rum is made by Aberdeenshire-based Dark Matter Distillers: Scotland's only purpose-built rum distillery. It's made from sugarcane molasses with added ginger, green and black peppercorns, and dried long pepper.

Buy it here.

2. Ancient Mariner Gin

hebridean-liqueurs.co.uk

Perfect for sailors, this delicious gin comes in a cube shaped bottle to stop spillage at sea. It is made by the Hebridean Liqueur Company from Helensburgh, and is made with gin, citrus and a touch of pepper and spice.

Buy it here.

3. Arbikie Vodka

arbikie.com

This slightly sweet potato vodka is made by Arbikie Distillery near Lunan Bay, Angus, and recently beat a host of famous names to win a major award. It's creamy, smooth and best served neat over ice.

Buy it here.

4. Daffy’s Gin

daffysgin.com

This premium gin is made in Edinburgh from juniper, Lebanese mint, coriander, angelica root, Spanish lemon, cassia bark, orris root, and orange peel. It should be served neat over ice like a single malt whisky, or with fresh mint and lime.

Buy it here.

5. Boë Gin

boegin.com

Boë is a relatively new gin from the Stirlingshire village of Doune, with hints of orange peel, liquorice, and citrus. It takes its strange name from Professor Franz de la Boë who invented gin in 1658. Drink with tonic, ice, and wedges of orange.

Buy it here.

6. Pickering’s Gin

pickeringsgin.com

Pickering's is produced by Summerhall Distillery in Edinburgh using an original Bombay recipe kept secret since 1947. Botanicals include coriander, cardamon, fennel, star anise, lime and cloves. Serve with Fever Tree tonic and lemongrass.

Buy it here.

7. NB Gin

nbgin.com

This crisp gin is made in North Berwick, East Lothian in small quantities of only 100 litres at a time. It's flavoured with lemon peel, cardamom, and coriander seed, which gives it a uniquely spicy flavour. Serve with lemon juice and soda.

Buy it here.

8. Ogilvy Vodka

ogilvyspirits.com

This robust, award-winning vodka is made on Ogilvy Farm in Angus by the Jarron family from home-grown Maris Piper potatoes and water from the nearby Ogilvy Burn. Serve neat over ice with a slice of pear, or with fresh ginger and soda water.

Buy it here.

9. Seaside Gin

edinburghgindistillery.co.uk

This unique offering from the Edinburgh Gin Distillery is made with British coastal botanicals to evoke the taste of the seaside. It's slightly sweet, and is made with juniper, seaweed, gorse, and ground ivy. Serve with tonic, ideally at the beach.

Buy it here.

10. The Botanist

bruichladdich.com

This satin-smooth gin is made on the stunning Hebridean Isle of Islay at the Bruichladdich distillery. It's wild-foraged ingredients include apple mint, gorse, elder, lemon balm, and wild thyme. Serve with Fever Tree tonic or neat over ice.

Buy it here.

11. Caorunn Gin

caorunngin.com

This crisp, dry gin is made with locally-foraged botanicals at Balmenach in the Cairngorms, one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. It’s distilled four times by "gin master" Simon Buley, and is best served with tonic and a slice of apple.

Buy it here.

12. Old Raj Red

wmcadenhead.com

This aromatic gin is made at Cadenhead Distillery, Scotland's oldest independent bottler. It gets its yellow colouring from the saffron that forms part of the blend. Other botanicals include juniper, orris, and cassia. Drink with ice and bitters.

Buy it here.

13. Eden Mill Love Gin

edenmill.com / Via edenmill.com

This romantic gin is made at the St. Andrew's based Eden Mill distillery with hibiscus and rose petals. If that doesn't appeal, you could always try their sea buckthorn gin instead. Serve over ice with a wedge of pink grapefruit topped with tonic water.

Buy it here.

14. Valt Vodka

strathlevendistillers.com / Via Facebook: OpenTheValt

This flavourful malted barley vodka is produced by Strathleven Distilleries near Loch Lomond using fresh mountain water. Its inventors claim Valt is first Scottish single malt vodka in the world. Serve with orange, soda, and a dash of sugar syrup.

Buy it here.

15. Oaked Highland Gin

strathearndistillery.com

This handcrafted gin by Strathearn Distillery in Perthshire gets its golden colour (and hints of vanilla, smoke, and caramel) from the oak chips the gin is infused with during production. Mix with fresh orange over ice for a gin Harvey Wallbanger.

Buy it here.

16. Rock Rose Gin

rockrosegin.co.uk

This hand-distilled gin made in beautiful Dunnet Bay is worth buying for the bottle alone, but it tastes great too. It's made with locally sourced rose root, sea buckthorn, and rowan berries. Serve with ice, Fever Tree tonic, and lemon.

Buy it here.

17. Pincer Vodka

crossbillgin.com

This creamy, herbal vodka is made by Crossbill Highland Distilling near Aviemore in a fantastic wooden building that was recently nominated for a "Shed of the Year" award. It's infused with milk heather and wild elderflower and tastes great over ice.

Buy it here.

18. Darnley's View Spiced Gin

Till Britze / darnleysview.com

This cinnamon and nutmeg spiced gin is made by the Wemyss family in Fife. It takes its name from Lord Darnley, who first met his wife-to-be Mary Queen of Scots at Weymss Castle in 1565. Serve with ice and ginger ale.

Buy it here.

19. Gin Bothy Mulled Gin

peelfarm.com

If you've never tried a spiced gin, now's your chance. This warming gin is made in a farm bothy in the Angus Glens and is infused with cinnamon, cloves, mixed spice, and sugar. Best served on the rocks, with ginger ale, or warm in winter.

Buy it here.