Eden Mill distillery invests £150k in gin tourism experience

Eden Mill distillery has invested £150,000 in a gin blending experience based at the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews which aims to attract 2,500 visitors within its first six months.

Jasper Daly, Eden Mill distiller, Scottish rugby professionals Jonny Gray, Fraser Brown and Stuart Hogg, and Eden Mill distiller Marc Watson at the recently unveiled Blendworks. 

Eden Mill, based in Guardbridge just outside the golfing hotspot of St Andrews, is hoping to capitalise on the thriving tourism trade with the launch of Blendworks.

Having devised the concept earlier this year, Blendworks launched on 19 October. Based at the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews, which overlooks the the 18th green and the 1st tee of the famed Old Course, it reflects Eden Mill’s desire to share its “ethos of educating and experimenting with as many people as [it] can”.

For £95 per person, Blendworks will offer gin lovers the chance to create their own spirit and hopes to attract 2,500 visitors in its first six months. The experience lasts for two and a half hours and is described as a “multi sensory journey into the world of blending”.

Attendees will be able to select their own botanicals as well as bottle and label their own gin. Guests will first be taught the science and history behind gin which will be following by a tasting session to explore the different botanicals and flavour profiles found in the spirit.

Blendworks will run twice daily all year round, with early and late afternoon slots available. Guests will sample three cocktails during the session, two of which will be made with their own spirit. Tickets will include a gift pack with gin, Blendworks glasses and a certificate.

With the weakening pound and thus favourable exchange rate tourists, St Andrews is expected to directly benefit from a 19% growth in North American visitors to Scotland.

Famous sporting personalities including Sir Ian Botham, who was in town playing in the annual Dunhill Links Championship, and rugby star Stuart Hogg have already taken part, having attended a preview event prior to the launch.

Eden Mill has plans to expand the experience to including whisky blending following its recent launch of the Art of the Blend range.

Paul Miller, co-founder of Eden Mill, said: “At Eden Mill we love to share our passion with our visitors. It’s a source of great pride that our gin experiences at the distillery are listed number one on things to do in Fife on Trip Advisor. “Following this success, we decided to go a step beyond and offer a unique, luxury Scottish experience in line with the Eden Mill brand ethos of consistent innovation.”

“Blendworks offers a really personal experience whilst also paying homage to local traditions and produce – from the distilling techniques used to the botanicals that we painstakingly source. “How people socialise is changing – we’re seeing groups come to the distillery to rediscover their local area and share their experiences on social media, for example.

“The fact that Blendworks is so interactive will encourage visitors to share content on their social channels, allowing their wider circles to become a part of the gin blending experience.”