Gin maker set for new distillery in East Lothian

A GIN enjoyed by the stars is soon set to be produced around the clock from a new distillery.

NBs new gin distillery will welcome visitors with canapes and slippers .

NB Distillery – the North Berwick-based firm – has been given planning permission to make gin and vodka 24 hours a day at a new headquarters.

For the past three years, NB Gin has been the official tipple of choice at the Brit Awards after-parties.

NB Distillery plans to offer enthusiasts tours of the new distillery, which will include canapes served by award-winning North Berwick chef JP MacLachlan.

JP, who has worked with Gordon Ramsay and Raymond Blanc, will collaborate with the distillery to offer private dining, while visitors will also get their own slippers to wear.

The announcement comes just a day after the News revealed plans for a new single malt whisky distillery in Leith.

Viv Muir, chief executive and co-founder of NB Gin, said: “We have an overwhelming demand for our product worldwide which is necessitating major expansion. With that has come a demand for distillery tours.

“As with everything we do at NB, we wanted to do something more than just the stock standard tour. When visitors come to the new distillery, we want it to feel like you’re coming for a drink and food at our home.

“That means you’ll be handed an NB as soon as you arrive, you’ll be invited to take off your shoes, be given your own slippers and our chef will be on hand to treat you with delicious canapes. It is an experience and feeling of ‘coming home’, not a tour.

“We also plan to take advantage of East Lothian’s incredible produce to really compliment the luxury feel to the distillery.”

Ms Muir said construction on the new distillery at Halfland Barns, to the south-east of North Berwick, was due to begin shortly.

She said it would be a crucial next step in NB Gin’s growth since the product was launched just four years ago.

NB hopes to have the distillery open by autumn. It will be energy neutral and will feature solar panels, lighting and heating.

The building will capture rain water and allow it to be reused for the condensing process of stilling. Ms Muir said: “Since we launched NB just a few years ago, it’s been an incredible journey and we’ve enjoyed fantastic growth, especially over the last 12 months, with NB being enjoyed all around the world.

“We’re so proud that we can continue our global growth from our hometown and, at the same time, offer an original tourist draw that will benefit the local area. It’s another milestone for us and the company.”