Scottish Canal’s toast 200th anniversary with award-winning Glasgow gin maker

Scottish Canals have teamed up with an award-winning gin maker to celebrate its bicentenary of the Union Canal.

Purist Gin, who are located just along the canalside from the Scottish Canal’s Headquarters in The Whisky Bond building in Glasgow, have partnered with the organisation to create a bespoke bottle of gin.

Inspired by the unique history of the Union Canal, Purist Gin founder Bruce Walker was delighted to get onboard.

Entrepreneur Bruce, who set up his business during a national lockdown, has gone strength to strength with his gin making facility in the city and has already netted himself a number of industry awards.

Bruce, who aimed to have his business to be fresh and ever-changing, has over the years been inviting Scottish artists to design a one-off, unique label for their bottles.

The anniversary, limited edition, unique clear bottle, celebrates the Union canal gin with a label designed by Scottish artist Molly Sellers and includes pictures of the Leamington Lift Bridge right through to the Avon Aqueduct and Falkirk Wheel.

Scottish Canals Chief Operating Officer, Richard Millar, said: “In our 200th year of the Caledonian and Union canal we have wanted to celebrate in all sorts of different ways, we’ve had a massive flotilla, we’ve had talks, presentations and exhibitions that have gone round and about the country just to celebrate this wonderful piece of canal engineering, but we also wanted people to toast this exciting 200 years with a tipple and we came together with our partners at Purist Gin and they helped us to develop a gin especially to celebrate the Union canal.

“This is a real opportunity to enjoy this gin, to toast 200 years of history and hopefully look forward towards the future of another 200 years.”

Founder of Purist Gin Bruce Walker said: “Being on the canal network we approached Scottish Canals to discuss a commemorative gin to celebrate and toast 200 years of the Union Canal. We have a concert of working with artists who can showcase their artwork on our gin, a classic London Dry gin. The artist Molly Sellers was selected to create the label celebrating and highlighting the history, connections and current uses of the Union Canal today. A perfect collaboration to celebrate the heritage of one canal with a young business developing on the banks of another canal in Scotland.”

The bespoke bottle of Purist Gin is available to purchase at the Falkirk Wheel visitor centre.

For further information, please contact:

Shirley Bartynek at Scottish Canals, 07768458442
or email Shirley.Bartynek@scottishcanals.co.uk

Or Bruce Walker at Purist Gin, on 07863 628159