‘Machair’ is a Gaelic word which describes a unique coastal environment, rich in the flora and fauna of the Hebrides. The botanicals which flourish in the glorious machair land of south-west Lewis inspire our contemporary Leòdhas gin – mint, wild thyme, rhubarb root with just a touch of heather. Blended with pure Lewis water which flows through the island’s Gneissian rock, they come together to create a light, refreshing gin, full of flavour and provides the perfect serve or as an addition to cocktails.
We are Iain and Laura, the co-founders of the Isle of Lewis Gin. With a longstanding passion for gin-making and the process of distillation, we decided, in 2022, to take the plunge and start work on creating the Isle of Lewis Gin from our home in fabulous Uig, on the south-west periphery of the island.
Our story begins during the Covid pandemic, Iain worked for the NHS and after 3 long and difficult years we were looking for a better work life balance. Fortunately, Covid made it possible to work from home anywhere on the planet so of course we chose the Isle of Lewis, where family roots run deep.
Our critical first step was to create a recipe of botanicals that reflects the environment we live in so, we took a walk along the stunning machair at Reef Beach in Uig. It was in full bloom with a profusion of wild plants and flowers. That was the start of a journey to identify and blend the subtle machair flavours that have come together in the Isle of Lewis Gin.
We hope you agree the product is worthy of the place that inspired it and enjoy our quest to capture the spirit of Lewis in a bottle.
Season (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024) |
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Cliff Studio, located by Cliff Beach, Valtos, Uig, shows coastal landscape and abstract…
Camas na Clibhe (Cliff beach) is a quartz sand beach situated on the Valtos peninsular in…
Traigh na Beirghe (Reef Beach) is a very long, sweeping, white sand beach in Uig
A low growing plant with small white 2 lobed flowers. Found on improved agricultural land…
Photograph of Pabbay from Reef Beach © David Wilson
In The Chessmen, Uig Gala day is…
Public Art structure by artists Marian Leven and Will Maclean that reflects local,…
In the remote region of uig on the Isle of Lewis, you will find Uig Heritage Centre. …
An open studio situated in an old byre overlooking the Atlantic in the crofting village…
Camas Uige or Uig Bay is in a national scenic area in the south west of Lewis.
Photograph © David Wilson
The glorious bay at Uig, south west Lewis, has many of…
Short, low growing with spike of bright yellow flowers
An Iron Age house which was reconstructed in 1999 following a storm in 1993 which…
Just enough is as good as a feast (Be happy with what you have)
Tha gu leòr cho math ri cuilm
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