Scottish distiller to send 500,000 gin baubles to US after bank funding

Taking boozy Christmas decorations to a whole new level, Edinburgh-based distiller Pickering’s is exporting almost half a million of its gin baubles to the US after receiving a seven-figure funding package from HSBC.

Having commenced production of the gin baubles back in 2016, the distillery now produces a whopping 1.2 million a year, all filled on-site using specially adapted machinery.

Pickering’s is now able to ship the festive gifts to the US for the first time, sending almost half a million across the pond which are on sale across 23 states.

The bank funding has also enabled the distillery to lease its first warehouse facility in order to store the baubles, as well as employ eight seasonal staff members in addition to its 19 full-time workers.

Last year, it unveiled plans to quadruple its turnover to £4 million and up production of its baubles, from 30,000 in 2016 to one million in 2017, with staff filling 20,000 baubles a day to fulfil orders.

Matthew Gammell, co-founder, head distiller and head of production at Pickering’s Gin, said: “We launched our gin baubles as a festive, novelty product to sell over Christmas but never anticipated we’d have such a positive response from consumers. The support from HSBC UK has made this year’s production process far smoother, with increased hands on deck to make the product and much-needed space to store the 1.2 million baubles.”

Marcus Pickering, co-founder and head of export, added: “There’s huge demand for our gin overseas, with bottled gin already being sold in Beijing and the United States. Following a fantastic online following, we now have the opportunity to send baubles internationally as well, with the US being our first port of call. HSBC UK has provided us with essential banking facilities that allow us to sustain growth as we respond to continually increasing demand for our products within the UK and overseas”.

Pickerings is based at the Summerhall Distillery in the Scottish capital and has been producing its gin since 2013.

Susan Rowand, head of business banking at HSBC UK in Scotland, said: “Marcus and Matthew run an impressive operation at Pickering’s Gin and know how to develop quality products that appeal to their customers. We’re thrilled to support them as they set their sights on increased exports and respond to the incredible demand they’ve seen for their gin baubles”.

The baubles are sold in packs of six for £30, with each coloured plastic bauble containing 5cl of gin.