Trusadh S10E06 - Gin: Spiorad an t-Sineabhair/Gin: The Spirit of Juniper

Gin's growing global popularity has been a remarkable success story in recent years. In 2016 £1.1 billion of gin was sold in the UK alone, with economic projections suggesting that gin sales will outstrip whiskey by 2020. Scotland has played a major part in it's revival with 73 different companies creating over 130 gins across the country.

At its simplest, the basic ingredient in any gin is juniper, and it is then flavoured with a variety of botanicals. However, it is a spirit with a long and turbulent history, as well as a vibrant present and future as gin enthusiast, Alasdair Fraser, finds out. Visiting a number of key distilleries, and taking in gin festivals, and learning about the art of making gin cocktails, Alasdair discovers more about this massively diverse spirit.

With more and more gins appearing on the market, he also explores what the future will hold. Could gin really take over the mantle of the national tipple from whisky?