Scottish Rugby squad is given a new form of gin-spiration

A trio of Scottish rugby internationals have worked with the Eden Mill distillery to create the official gin of Scottish Rugby.

Scottish Rugby Milk Thistle Gin has been created by Stuart Hogg, Jonny Gray and Fraser Brown from the national squad and features the flavours of cotton thistle and milk thistle, reflecting the Scottish Rugby logo, as well as juniper, black cardamom and spicy floral notes.

Paul Miller, co-founder of Eden Mill, said: ‘We’ve enjoyed a fantastic first year of our partnership with Scottish Rugby, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby, so we thought it befitting to create something to reflect and celebrate as we move into the next year.

‘Our recently launched gin blending experience, Blendworks, was the ideal place to get the Scotland team involved right from the beginning.  Botanically speaking, black cardamom was a unanimous favourite during the boys’ Blendworks session, so of course we had to work this in to the final recipe.

‘Although at first Scottish Rugby and Eden Mill Scottish gin may seem an unlikely unity – there are vast parallels to be drawn between them. Dedication, skill, expertise and home-grown ingredients are all required to be at the top of your game.’

Scottish Rugby Milk Thistle Gin has been created by Stuart Hogg, Jonny Gray and Fraser Brown

The players visited St Andrews-based Eden Mill and its recently launched gin blending experience, Blendworks, where they began to identify botanicals to use in their gin. Black cardamom was a firm favourite, according to Miller, and it became essential to include this in the final recipe.

Toni Blackhurst, Scottish Rugby’s head of marketing and sponsorship, said: ‘Eden Mill are a fantastic partner and we’re delighted to be collaborating with them on the creation of the Scottish Rugby Milk Thistle Gin, as a celebration of our second year in partnership.

‘We are always looking at innovative ways to activate with our partners and as we continue to attract larger audiences than ever before and this new gin is bound to be a real hit with our fans.’

Paul added: ‘We know that Scottish Rugby fans also happen to be massive Scottish gin fans, with 50,000 Eden Mill gin and tonics expected to be served at Scotland, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby home games over the course of the season.

‘Now fans will be able to celebrate by buying a bottle of their favourite tipple created by their favourite players!’

Eden Mill entered into a four-year partnership with Scottish Rugby in August last year.

The newly created Scottish Rugby Milk Thistle Gin will come in bespoke bottles that include an artistic impression of the Scottish Rugby logo as well as a Scottish Rugby tartan topper.

The gin is priced at £32.50 (US $42) for a 500ml bottle and is available online now, as well as from the distillery’s onsite shop.