The 5pm Dining blog would like to raise a glass in welcome to Heads & Tales. A new gin lounge bar, Heads & Tales is located in the basement of The Rutland Hotel on Rutland Place.
As well as the bar, run by Bruce Hamilton, the development is a new home for The Edinburgh Gin Distillery which will be making gin on the premises with their Flora and Caledonia stills.
Watch gin being made
Visitors will be able sip on a G ‘n’ T, or indeed something more exotic, while watching the gin being made.
Commenting on the launch, Alex Nicol, managing director at Spencerfield Spirit, the makers of Edinburgh Gin, said:
‘Edinburgh has a special relationship with gin stretching back centuries. To this day, more gin is drunk here per head of the population than in any other UK city. With our new visitor centre and distillery coupled with the Heads & Tales gin emporium, Edinburgh’s great tradition for distilling looks set to be revived’.
Alongside the extensive gin list, customers will also be able to enjoy carefully selected beers, wines and spirits as well as a cocktail list full of unique and original creations.
Scottish charcuterie
Seating 70, the lounge bar will serve Scottish charcuterie, as well as freshly prepared breads, locally sourced smoked fish and cheeses.
The distillery has been opened in partnership with Heriot-Watt University. The unique agreement will see Heriot-Watt Professor of Brewing and Distilling Paul Hughes working with one of his graduates to create a world-renowned gin facility, providing research into Scottish botanicals and the history of distilling in Edinburgh, as well as commemorating historic gins and developing new products.
Professor Paul Hughes said: ‘Edinburgh Gin is bringing distillation back to Edinburgh and we’ve been assisting by ensuring that the new stills produce the same high quality and flavours that existing customers are used to. By selecting smaller stills, the team also has the opportunity to experiment. They’ll be able to recreate gins of days past, as well as coming up with completely original recipes.
‘Edinburgh’s gin heritage has been largely forgotten; hopefully the opening of this centre will introduce more people to this complex spirit and remind people in the capital that gin is the true flavour of Edinburgh.’
DIY gin
There are hopes that, in the future, customers will be able to take part in a gin making experience, creating their own specific varieties. The distillery and bar complex will also be available for corporate events.