Local gin producer in good spirits following business support

About the business

Launched in March 2022, Kilmartin Glen Spirits is the passion project of husband-and-wife Greig and Louise MacPhail. The business uses only the finest botanicals to produce its classic dry gin. The gin is enriched with hand-foraged Noble Fir, Scots Pine, and Spruce, unveiling a citrus essence which compliments the traditional juniper notes of the traditional tipple.

How Business Gateway has helped

Greig and Louise approached their local Business Gateway for advice on how to make their start-up a success. The duo accessed a suite of Business Gateway’s start-up services, including 1:1 advice from a dedicated business adviser who offered advice on their business plan, company regulations, and funding.     

The pair also accessed Business Gateway’s Planning To Start tool, which provided them with a start-up toolkit packed with resources and advice tailored to their needs.  

Having initially sold their gin through a local hotel, and in search of a better way to market their business online and increase sales, Greig and Louise also benefited from DigitalBoost, Scotland’s national digital upskilling service delivered by Business Gateway.  The duo attended various DigitalBoost webinars to learn more about improving their online presence and benefited from 1:1 support from a digital expert to ensure their website was fit for purpose. This support helped the couple develop their website and allowed their gin to be purchased online, which led to an increase in sales.  

As the business developed, Business Gateway was also able to provide some expert advice from a marketing specialist.  

Louise MacPhail, Co-Founder of Kilmartin Glen Spirits, said: “The MacPhails have had roots in Kilmartin village for over 100 years and Greig and I really wanted to create our own product to honour my family’s legacy. I always dreamed of starting my own business, but I knew I had a lot to learn.

“Support from Business Gateway has been critical in our business journey so far. We have learned so much about the importance of developing an online presence, which has led to an increase in sales and means we can now target consumers from further afield.”