Former headteacher creates award-winning Scottish craft gin business

About the business

Collymoon Craft Gin’s Gealach Úr Scottish Dry Gin recently won the Bronze Medal Award for Scotland in the London Dry Gin category at the World Gin Awards in January. The gin, which has a unique blend of Scottish botanicals, boasts citrus notes with a hint of spice and floral flavours.  

How Business Gateway has helped

Looking for advice on how to get her business off to the best start possible, Nicola accessed a suite of Business Gateway’s start-up support services, including one-to-one support from a dedicated business adviser, as well as advice on her business plan, funding, premises and marketing.  

Through Business Gateway, Nicola was put in touch with a digital expert who carried out an audit of her website, ensuring it was as user-friendly as possible. Nicola also learned about methods to optimise her search performance to market her product to her target audience.  

As well as selling online, Collymoon Craft Gin is now stocked in a range of hotels and B&Bs, including The Inn at Aberfoyle and the Black Bull in Gartmore. Nicola is now developing flavours for her next batch of gin products, which will include a navy strength edition, as well a fig, orange and vanilla gin.  

Nicola Finney, founder and owner, Collymoon Craft Gin, said: “I’ve always liked gin, and always had a hankering for setting up my own business, but was a bit apprehensive about jumping in at the deep end. I still can’t believe that my first product is award-winning. 

“Business Gateway has been a massive support throughout the process of setting up my business. Having my adviser on the end of the phone has given me a real confidence boost, knowing that I’m not alone in this process.”