Stirling Distillery

On the 18th of September 2020, my helper and I took a road trip up to Stirling to visit Stirling Distillery where they produce gin, my favourite spirit. The drive took 1 hour 15 minutes from where I live and 45 minutes from Glasgow. The roads on the way up were busy due to it being a bank holiday weekend.

Stirling is an old small medieval city located in central Scotland filled with interesting history and historic attractions surrounded with beautiful scenery, Ochil Hills. While visiting Stirling, I highly recommend taking a visit to Stirling Castle which dates from 1490 and this is where Robert Bruce became King of Scotland in 1306. Tourists will be able to see the Wallace Monument in the distance from the Stirling Castle hilltop. Unfortunately, parts of Stirling Castle are not wheelchair accessible and the grounds have large cobbles with a steep hill, this can be an obstacle for some wheelchair users and other people with other mobility requirements. I felt uncomfortable driving my wheelchair over the cobbles along the bridge outside the castle because they are uneven and bumpy. Therefore, I did not go right up to the castle because my wheelchair charge was also running low as I had been driving around the city most of the day and touring the Stirling Distillery.

If you are a gin enthusiast a bit like me or just like going to distilleries to learn about the production that goes into creating gin. Then Stirling Distillery is the place you should visit if you are in Stirlingshire.

Stirling Gin production began in October 2015 by a married couple husband and wife and became a legal distillery in 2019 in an Old Smiddy. Their idea is giving the alcoholic drink a new dimension using unique ingredients from various local sources such as foraged nettles and fresh basil, this gives the gin a smooth and spicy herbal flavour as well as producing liqueurs. The Old Smiddy is situated below Stirling Castle which used to be a church temperance hall dated back to 1888. Stirling Distillery operates four interesting guided tours everyday catering for gin connoisseurs and enthusiasts. These tours are The Old Smiddy Gin School, Stirling Classic Tour, Folklore Tour and Battle Strength Tour. They also offer cocktail/gin making classes using botanicals to make your own gin with a twist for those who like to show off their bar skills at parties or friend’s houses. Visitors can get the opportunity to walk through the distillery learning about the history of the distillery and the production of the gin.

I chose to experience the Stirling Classic Tour. I was welcomed by tour guides and visitor assistants Katie and Walter. Walter gave me a taste of the Stirling Distillery infused gin with Wild Stirlingshire nettles. I was also given a taste of the Bloody Scotland mocktail that contains Blood Orange Syrup, Lime Juice and Cranberry Juice ideal for those that do not drink and drivers, you can put gin in it if you want. While drinking the gin, Katie went into the history of the origin of the gin as well as leading the tour with enthusiasm and great knowledge of the production and its connection to Stirling. The tour guide took me and my helper through to the still room where the gins are being distilled was also shown how it is bottled and packaged.

After the tour I bought myself a bottle of Stirling Distillery infused gin and a taster glass from the gift shop because I wanted to show my support to the independent distillery.

Guided Tour Prices

The Old Smiddy Gin School – £90 Per Person
Stirling Classic Tour – £10 Per Person
Folklore Tour – £15 Per Person
Battle Strength Tour – £23 Per Person

Accessible Information and Facilities

Stirling Distillery – The main entrance has a large step which wheelchairs would not be able to climb up. However, there is an accessible entrance for wheelchair users located at the side of the distillery which leads you into the still room. Visitors with disabilities will be shown to the main foyer by a member of staff. The distillery is small and there is not an awful lot of room to manoeuvre if you are a wheelchair user, I had to be very cautious when navigating around the distillery as there are a lot of tables and stools as well as the gift shop with open glass displays and members of staff. The distil room is narrow but it was manageable in small groups.

Accessible Toilets – There is a disabled toilet located near the main entrance and reception desk. The toilet is spacious with plenty of room to move around in, especially if you require any assistance. The toilet is kitted out with grab on rails for those who require them and the toilet is at good height and so is the sink.

Accessible Park – There is no car park at the distillery visitors will need to park on the street near the premises and it is free parking around that area. However, when I got out of the car, I had to find the nearest low curb to get onto the pavement, at least the road was quiet.

Children and Dogs – Stirling Distillery welcome children and dogs at no extra cost. The children will be offered a mocktail and doggies will be given a bowl of water. If you are planning a visit to Stirling Distillery, it is advised to book in advanced.

Overall, the customer service was up to a high standard throughout my visit to Stirling Distillery. The staff are very knowledgeable about the history of gin and its process, willing to answer any questions about your visit to the distillery or if you would like to know more information about Stirling in general. The distillery was looking very clean and tidy, it felt safe to walk around with safety measures put in place due to COVID – 19.