Scottish gin is booming and there is more to come.

The Wemyss family have announced that they are to open a new Darnley’s gin distillery this summer.

The new distillery is being constructed in a cottage next to their sister whisky distillery at Kingsbarns in the East Neuk of Fife.

Currently, their gin is distilled in London but production will move north of the border when the new plant opens.

William Wemyss, owner and Managing Director, said ‘We felt it was the right time to refresh Darnley’s Gin and also to bring production in-house, more specifically, home to Fife, where the Wemyss family has lived and worked for centuries.’

At the same time, the company has rebranded their gin. Previously known as Darnley’s View Gin, it is now known as straightforward Darnley’s Gin.

New Scottish gin: Darnley’s Spiced Gin Navy Strength

Moreover, the firm have launched a new expression of Darnley’s Gin. Darnley’s Spiced Gin Navy Strength is a 57.1% ABV spirit.

This gin uses the same botanicals as Darnley’s Spiced Gin but the amount of juniper has been increased alongside the alcohol content.

The Navy Strength title dates back to the days when Navy officers were given a daily ration of gin.

It had to have enough alcohol in it – 57% to be exact – that it could be spilled on gunpowder and the powder would still ignite.

The Navy Strength gin brings the Darnley’s Gin portfolio to three. It joins Darnley’s Original Gin and Darnley’s Spiced Gin.

The new gin will retail at £39.99.

Gin job

If all this talk of Scottish gin production has sharpened your appetite for distilling then the company are recruiting a new Assistant Distiller/Brand Ambassador to be based at Kingsbarns Distillery and Visitor Centre.

The job will combine the roles of gin ambassador, tour guide and gin still operations.

The new recruit will also have responsibility for the development of new recipes and production of the gin, reporting to the whisky distillery manager.

While on the subject of all things gin, Falkirk’s Wine Library is opening a new gin lounge this weekend. The doors open at 5pm on Friday.