The luxury golf property in St. Andrews, Scotland, has collaborated with local boutique distillery Darnley’s on a premium gin.
Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, overlooking the world’s oldest course in the small seaside town of St. Andrews, on Scotland’s east coast, is now offering a premium gin created in collaboration with nearby distillery, Darnley’s.
Named Fearann, Mar (the Earth, the sea, in Gaelic), the gin has been designed to showcase the botanicals of the surrounding Fife region, incorporating locally grown and foraged ingredients such as sea buckthorn, milk thistle, sugar kelp, and Marigold petals. Tasting notes include pine and sea salt on the nose, fresh pineapple and mango on the palate, and a tropical fruit and light salty finish.
“We’re thrilled to launch this exclusive gin, a product that champions our beautiful Scottish coast. Collaborating with a local distillery was hugely important to us and with Darnley’s expertise, Fife heritage and use of only natural ingredients they really are a perfect fit and we’re excited for this partnership to grow. We’re looking forward to guests enjoying a Fearann, Mar G&T or one of the specially designed cocktails at Old Course Hotel this summer”, said Phyllis Wilkie, General Manager, Old Course Hotel.
Timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Kohler Co., owner of the hotel, the gin will be exclusively available at the Old Course’s bars and restaurants, with two signature cocktails created to showcase the spirit.
Sustainability notes
Rather than a glass bottle, the gin has been packed in a reusable and recyclable pouch, which is lighter and takes up less space than typical bottles, thus contributing to a lower carbon footprint.
The gin is produced in a copper pot still at the Darley’s distillery, located in a former farm cottage on the grounds of Wemyss Castle, in the village of Kingsbarns. Following a London Dry style, no flavours or sugars are added after distillation, with the botanicals steeped in the base spirit.
“As a brand we are passionate about the land around us and we are always inspired by our landscape, so when the Old Course Hotel wanted to create a gin with the same inspiration, we jumped at the chance. Fearann Mar captures our location on the Fife coast perfectly — we’ve used a mixture of local botanicals and some sourced from our trusted farmers, to make this incredibly unique gin”, said Aaron Milligan, Gin Distiller, Darnley’s Gin.
The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa is set on the 18-hole championship Old Course, with 175 rooms and suites. It features an extensive spa and also offers guests access to the Kohler championship Duke’s Course, the only Scottish Heathland venue.