The Secret Garden Distillery began not in a boardroom or a commercial park, but in an overgrown, neglected plot at the foot of Edinburgh’s Pentland Hills.
In 2012, founders Hamish and Liberty Martin acquired the derelict site at Damhead and spent five years transforming it into an expansive herb nursery and sanctuary overlooking the dramatic Hillend.
By the time the distillery officially opened its doors in 2017, the grounds grew over 600 plant varieties – from lemon verbena and lavender to elderflower and jasmine. Starting as The Old Curiosity Distillery, the business set out with the idea to let the garden drive the spirit through a strict “seed-to-sip” philosophy.
Operating completely chemical-free, without pesticides or synthetic flavourings, Secret Garden Distillery harvested seasonal crops by hand and distilled them into small batches of premium gin. Their Wild Gin, Rose Gin, and Summer Gin sent waves across the gin industry – not simply for their natural flavour profiles, but for the colour of their gin. Certain floral extracts caused the spirits to naturally change colour when mixed with tonic water, proving a fantastic little marketing opportunity. The site soon evolved into a destination, complete with glasshouses, a café, and tours which allowed visitors to pick their own botanicals and blend custom spirits.
In August 2022, the business was acquired by Kate Armstrong and her daughters, Imogen and Isobel.
Right away, they started with a rebranding operation, renaming the old distillery as The Secret Garden Distillery. The new owners shifted focus away from third-party contract work to build a single, premium brand that touted its dedication to environmental responsibility.
The family invested heavily in green initiatives like an on-site borehole for pure water and installing beehives to boost local pollination. They began lightweighting their packaging with 70% recycled glass bottles, with their sights set on a clear path toward carbon-negative distillation. A big ambition.
That focus on liquid quality and sustainability brought significant international attention. In 2024, the distillery expanded its distribution footprint across Europe and swept top honours at The Spirits Business Gin Masters. The momentum peaked when the company was named UK Gin Producer of the Year by the IWSC, cementing its status as one of Scotland’s standout craft producers.
Despite its critical success in the early days, the distillery was not immune to the punishing UK craft spirits sector. It suffered greatly from rising energy costs, inflation, and high excise duties, and several missteps and missed opportunities sealed the downfall of the Secret Garden Distillery.
As of mid 2026, talks to secure vital new capital are ongoing after a primary prospective investor abruptly withdrew.
On July 1, 2026, the company entered voluntary liquidation, placing 16 staff members out of work, closing its Pentland Hills site, and bringing a premature end to one of Scotland’s most distinctive botanical gin producers.
It is a sad loss of one of Edinburgh’s most successful – and iconic – gin distilleries.
