Brothers stir up new Scottish spirit

About the business

Pineappl, owned by brothers Dominic and David Tait, launched its Tait Bros Valentian Vermouth in October 2019. Produced in Piedmont, Italy, the innovative spirit blends Italian fortified wine with Scottish new-make malt spirits supplied by a distillery in the Borders. This inventive use of Scottish new-make spirits is at the forefront of a new strand of the Scottish drink industry.

How Business Gateway has helped

Pineappl received specialist funding advice from Business Gateway which resulted in the company being awarded a £4,000 grant from the Scottish Borders Business Fund, which helped to successfully market and launch its new vermouth product.

Business Gateway provided a variety of start-up business services, which included one-to-one business advice, funding and business plan support and assistance on market research reports.

Dominic Tait, co-founder and director of Pineappl, said: “When we approached Business Gateway, our main aim was to identify a way to increase our financial input and narrow down some areas where we lacked specific business expertise.

“Business Gateway were brilliant in providing us with one-to-one business advice and funding support, which gave us the confidence and knowledge to successfully apply for funding. The Scottish Borders Business Fund grant was a crucial step when launching our product and enhancing our website and marketing capabilities.”

Wilma Norris, business adviser, commented: “We were able to help the Tait brothers establish key connections with local businesses and produce which complement their Valentian Vermouth, including local cheese and meat suppliers. By increasing their network of contacts, Dominic and David have identified great Scottish foods that pair well with vermouth and increased the exposure of their product in the industry.”

What’s next?

The firm’s long-term goal is to move production from Italy to the Borders, creating both local jobs and a tourist experience.