Our Gin Experiences
The Process
From our private spring, Sheildgreen, to our bespoke distillation school, the process behind 1881 Gin is one of expertise, history & craftsmanship.
Where 1881 Gin Distillery Began
The idea for The 1881 Gin Distillery came on a summer day, standing in front of the steps to our tennis pavilion on the front lawn. In the 1920s Peebles Hydro had more tennis courts than Wimbledon, and we hosted many a tournament at that time. Gin and tonic was a popular tipple, served on the lawn to the crowds that gathered to watch. Would it be possible to turn water to gin and create our own gin to honour the history of the hotel?
Peebles Hydro has never settled for received wisdom or conventional thinking. A gin distilled with local botanicals, and made with water drawn from a private spring? It’s unheard of – well, almost unheard of
We quickly discovered that the pavilion did not have enough space to house all of our gin distilling equipment. Undeterred, we decided to move production into the main hotel and so The 1881 Distillery was born – named after the date Peebles Hydropathic Hotel was first opened.
Our Distillation Process
Our 1881 Gin was born from the same water that started the story for Peebles Hydro and named after the year which our iconic hotel opened. The local Shieldgreen spring now supplies the gleaming copper stills of our very own distillery and our gin school. Many of the botanicals grown right here in our grounds and our very own tonic water, along with the gin, is trickled, nurtured and perfected by Peebles.
Did you know only our 1881 Gin can draw on the waters of Shieldgreen spring? Only our gin will taste this way. Perfect every time.
1881 Distillery 360° tour
Meet the Makers
Dean McDonald
Meet our talented head distiller Dean McDonald.
Having been through the extensive postgraduate Master’s in Brewing and Distilling at the International University for Brewing and Distilling, he certainly knows a thing or two about gin, and any form of alcohol for that matter.
Read all about Dean here
Lauren Appleyard
Meet Lauren Appleyard.
With a vast experience in hospitality, and especially the drinks sector, she has joined the distilling team as a trainee distillery, working with Dean to help create future products.
Read all about Lauren here