Local Spirits Business Gin Bothy to Benefit
Forestry & Land Scotland, which assumed ownership of the Glen Prosen estate in Angus two years ago, have announced that the food and drinks manufacturer Gin Bothy will be leasing the complex of industrial buildings along with two other properties on the estate. It forms part of FLS’s wider strategy to create new jobs and bring economic benefits to the Angus glens.
The intention of the local Angus business is to open a small craft distillery in the industrial buildings (subject to Planning Consent) where all their drink products will now be made – using locally sourced materials with flavours from the glen – as well as a visitor experience.
This will involve liaising with FLS to include information about the vision and future of the public land. The development will see Gin Bothy launch its first ever whisky out of the brand new production facility, believed to be one of the most remote in Scotland.
The Gunshot whisky range — an eight-year-old blend and a scotch liqueur — is the first in a proposed set of releases by the Glamis firm, with around 300 barrels to be produced a year from the Glen Prosen site. And in 2025, production will begin on a 12 year aged single malt.
Bothy Trading is also behind the successes of Jam Bothy and the Bothy Experience in Glamis. The plans for the visitor experience at Glen Prosen include an immersive whisky retreat and guided walks and foraging events.
Other initiatives benefitting from Glen Prosen having come into public ownership include a Nature Restoration Fund project, which has seen the installation of 14km of deer fencing as part of our river restoration work. Tree planting in these enclosures will take place next year to help improve the habitat around Prosen Water and its tributaries.
And following FLS’s recent Science Day, they have been progressing ideas in discussion with the universities and other science bodies who attended. Forest Research would like to access and use FLS-managed land in the Angus Glens to extend its prestigious network of research forests.
This will include work to look at responses to climate change of native woodland expansion. FLS’ Angus Glens Programme Manager Chris Reid is taking part in a panel discussion on this topic on 4 December – see Edinburgh Forests and Landscapes Network (EFLN) | Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes.
FLS are working on the finer details of their forthcoming land management plan, in preparation for a final round of stakeholder and public consultation in spring 2025.
Moving in spring 2025 the business already has strong local roots, and we look forward to this new venture supporting existing and new jobs in the area as well as fostering sustainable tourism.
— Forestry and Land Scotland (@ForestryLS) November 28, 2024
Find out more here: https://t.co/8JLsraoqby pic.twitter.com/Ce7Bufs0nS
I was delighted at the announcement of these plans for Gin Bothy, which I have found myself congratulating repeatedly on their successes and awards of the past decade.
GRAEME
This is a truly special Angus business that is now going to go from strength to strength in producing unique, world class Angus products and boosting sustainable tourism in the area.
Recent figures show that Scotland’s whisky industry boosted the country’s economy by more than £7.1 billion.
I am equally pleased to see how critical conservation work is progressing under FLS’s management of the estate – this is a most welcome public ownership success story.
Background
Other work being undertaken by FLS at Glenprosen:
Forest Operations – Timber harvesting started in Glen Doll in October to clear windblow from the public trails around the White Water. Please keep a look out for signs alerting visitors to forestry operations; safety signs are there to ensure that everyone accessing the forest stays safe while operations are taking place.
Ecological surveys – FLS’s natural regeneration survey has counted sapling trees in various locations around Glen Prosen and shows that in the southeast of the site near to Cormuir farmhouse we have downy birch, willow and rowan coming through across several hectares thanks to a reduction in grazing pressure.
