There was a time when only the brave and the dangerous would linger too long around the waters of Leith’s notorious port. But now the thriving dock area has become Edinburgh’s foodie mecca, packed with Michelin star restaurants, quirky bistros, delis, farmers’ markets, breweries and some of the most admirable whisky collections in the country. The latest addition to the landscape is a reintroduction of spirits production with the opening of The Port of Leith Distillery. While they wait for their whisky to come of age, they have released their very first spirit: Lind & Lime Gin. This fiercely Scottish gin pays homage to Leith’s rich maritime history. Gin and lime have long gone hand in hand, not just in a G&T, but also in a Southside and a Rickey, just to name a few. As the name suggests, Lind & Lime Gin delivers a big lime hit, inspired by the story of a seafaring chap called James Lind. After receiving medical training at Edinburgh University, Lind joined the Royal Navy in 1738 and climbed to the rank of Surgeon aboard HMS Salisbury. Here he conducted what is now recognised to be one of the very first clinical trials ever recorded. He gave six pairs of men different treatments for scurvy and noted that the greatest positive impact was witnessed among those administered citrus fruit. The Royal Navy began taking citrus fruit on long journeys and Brits soon got the nickname limeys for that very reason. But Leith’s lime and gin history doesn’t stop there. The limes taken aboard ships were normally preserved in rum, but as we’ve all asked at some point in our lives, what shall we do with a drunken sailor? So Lachlan Rose of Leith decided to try preserving the citrus in sugar instead, and Rose’s Lime Juice was born, giving rise to the Gimlet cocktail. Lind & Lime Gin is exceptionally well balanced, having been distilled with seven botanicals, including of course juniper, pink peppercorns and the aforementioned lime. Bright and citrusy, it’s a charming gin for a G&T on a summer’s day. However, it’s also full-bodied with lots of warming spice, making it equally wonderful mixed into cocktails on a dreich day.

£6.43 per 100.00ml