The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

We use apple mint, chamomile, creeping thistle, downy birch, elder, gorse, lemon balm, hawthorn, bog myrtle, sweet cicely, lady’s bedstraw, spear mint, water mint, meadowsweet, red clover, tansy, mugwort, white clover, heather, wood sage, wild thyme and a token sprig of Islay juniper. All of them are responsibly hand-foraged by our two professional foragers.

Yes, to this day the selection of 22 botanicals is the same as the one originally chosen by Jim McEwan. The Latin name of each botanical is also embossed on the front and back of our bottle.

You can never go wrong with a simple, well-made Botanist and Tonic (we like to call it a B&T). Mix The Botanist with a quality tonic water and garnish it with a sprig of rosemary and a slice of grapefruit.

Alternatively, The Botanist is exceptional in a Dry Martini. Ensure you use a good-quality, chilled vermouth for maximum enjoyment.

Essential oils and aromatic compounds extracted from the 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals and 9 classic gin botanicals bind effectively to alcohol. At 46%, the spirit holds a richer, more viscous mouthfeel than it would at a lower strength of 40% ABV / 80 proof. Furthermore, when Jim McEwan first created The Botanist, he wanted it to deliver a satin-smooth, mellow palate while still being able to stand up in cocktails.

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is widely considered to be an excellent gin. It has picked up various accolades over the years since its launch in 2011, including gold medals at the World Gin Awards and the USA Spirit Ratings.

We also think it’s an exceptional gin, although some may say we’re biased…

22 wild botanicals are used in The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, all of which are hand-foraged on Islay by our professional foragers. The full list of botanicals is as follows: apple mint, chamomile, creeping thistle, downy birch, elder, gorse, lemon balm, hawthorn, bog myrtle, sweet cicely, lady’s bedstraw, spear mint, water mint, meadowsweet, red clover, tansy, mugwort, white clover, heather, wood sage, wild thyme and a token sprig of Islay juniper. 

Yes, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is gluten-free. The distillation process transforms the liquid into vapour and leaves the heavy gluten proteins behind.

If you’re looking to enjoy a classic, refreshing long drink then we recommend pairing The Botanist Islay Dry Gin with a high-quality tonic water and plenty of ice. Garnish it with rosemary and a slice of grapefruit for ultimate enjoyment, although if you don’t have this available then garnishing with something seasonal or whatever you have available will be fine. If you’re more of a cocktail aficionado, then try it in a Dry Martini for something sophisticated - you can find our Dry Martini recipe here.

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is 46% ABV / 92 proof.

One of our favourites is Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water which has a perfect balance of taste and carbonation. However, any good quality tonic water you can source will complement it perfectly.

There are 64 calories in a single serving (25ml) of The Botanist Islay Dry Gin.

If you’re serving a gin & tonic made with The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, we recommend garnishing with a sprig of rosemary and a grapefruit slice. For a Dry Martini, use a twist of lemon peel. You can find the recommended garnish for each of our cocktails by visiting the Cocktails page.

You can purchase The Botanist Islay Dry Gin directly from our distillery website (www.bruichladdich.com) and delivery is available to most countries. Depending on where you are in the world, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin should be readily available in a wide range of supermarkets, wine & spirits retailers and online retailers such as Amazon.

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin has a complexity and depth of flavour that lends itself to a wide variety of different serves. It is delicious in a simple gin & tonic, exquisite in a crisp, classic Dry Martini and also goes excellently in a Negroni. For more unique serves and seasonal suggestions, an extensive list of different recipes can be found on our Cocktails page.

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin has a complex, fresh, and smooth flavour profile that balances traditional juniper with sweet citrus, delicate wild herbs, and rich floral notes thanks to our 22 wild Islay botanicals.

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is a perfect gift for a gin-lover as it has a distinct flavour profile thanks to the selection of 22 wild botanicals from Islay. It is also perfect for people who are less familiar with gin, as it’s an excellent example of a classic London Dry gin. Taste aside, the beautiful bottle which is embossed with the Latin names of each of our botanicals makes for a striking and unique addition to anyone’s home bar.

Yes, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is suitable for vegans - we use no animal products in the making or filtering of our gin.

No, as a traditional dry gin, the distillation process used to make The Botanist Islay Dry Gin results in zero carbohydrates and zero sugars. We also add no sugar, sweeteners or artificial additives of any sort.

Yes, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is sustainably produced. Firstly, our 22 wild botanicals are responsibly hand-foraged by our two professional foragers who are also responsible for cultivating the land where they grow and ensuring local populations are never depleted. Secondly, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is produced by Bruichladdich Distillery Company Limited which is a certified B Corp company. In order to become a credited B Corp company, we need to adhere to various environmental and social standards and to be able to prove we are maintaining and improving upon these year on year. The full Impact Report we produce annually can be viewed here (link to Impact Report) which details more about the initiatives we undertake to ensure we are always using our business as a force for good.