Launched in March 2022, Kilmartin Glen Spirits is the passion project of husband-and-wife Greig and Louise MacPhail, who combined their love of gin, their family’s history in Kilmartin village and the abundance of botanicals on their doorstep, to establish a legacy for MacPhail generations to come.
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.
The gin is named after Kilmartin Glen, the broad valley extending south from the village of Kilmartin and one of Scotland’s richest pre-historic landscapes, locally known as the heart of Argyll.
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 for advice on their business plan, company regulations, and funding.
The pair were also able to access Business Gateway’s Planning to Start tool, which gave them access to 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, Greig and Louise also benefited from digital specialist help delivered by Business Gateway.
The duo attended various 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.
Louise MacPhail, co-founder, Kilmartin Glen Spirits, said: “I always dreamed of starting my own business, but I knew I had a lot to learn as well. 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.”
Donald Melville, Business Gateway adviser, said: “We were able to support Kilmartin Glen Spirits through a range of start-up services open to all new business owners in Scotland. It’s been fantastic to hear about the personal story behind the business and watch it grow, and I look forward to continuing to support Louise and Greig in the next stages of their journey.”