What Happened to the Kelso Gin Co?
The story of the Kelso Gin Company is a tale as old as distilleries have been making alcohol.
In 2016 the Kelso Gin Company Ltd made history: it was founded by partners including Oliver Drake and the then master distiller, Andrew Crow. It was the first gin distillery to operate legally in the Scottish Borders for over 180 years, and caught the imagination of locals and travellers.
While the company was first established in Kelso, the business relocated to a restored 1877 farm building at the Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre near Jedburgh, Scotland. It was quite a charming base for production.
What Made Them Famous: Crowman’s Gin.
In the old days, gin was infused with botanicals for medicinal purposes. The legend goes that a travelling medicine man – “The Crow Man – toured the Borders selling “little brighteners” to the poor and weary souls of southern Scotland. They were soothed by the proprietary blends of herbs, spices and secret ingredients. I think we all know that it was the alcohol providing much of the comfort.
The company’s fame can ostensibly be derived from distiller Andrew Crow’s “Crow Man” persona. Under his direction, the distillery became renowned for crafting unique, small-batch spirits using carefully selected botanicals. The Crow Man’s gin is still popular today, despite it being a particularly difficult spirit to locate.
The most popular of Kelso Gin Company’s gins are The Crow Man’s Gin, The Kelso Elephant Gin and Crow Man’s Lovage Gin.
Challenges and Ultimate Closure
It appears the Kelso Gin Company became a victim of its own successes. From the outside, the company enjoyed a cult following during the gin boom of the late 2010s; however, behind the scenes, things were not looking so positive.
The founders became embroiled in legal battles and a lengthy court. Allegations regarding homemade alcohol production were tried, yet the pair were cleared with a full not-guilty verdict in 2018. Sadly, the strain of the legal challenges, combined with tough trading conditions in the post-pandemic era made long-term operations unsustainable
On September 12, 2023, The Kelso Gin Company Ltd underwent a compulsory strike-off and was permanently dissolved from the UK Companies House register.
While the distillery is no longer operational, its role in reviving legal spirit distillation in the Scottish Borders remains a notable chapter in the region’s modern craft beverage history and some examples of their Crowmans gin is still popular today.
