Our Story…
Selkirk Distillers produced their first craft gin in September 2017. It’s architects believed that the Scottish Borders, with it's rich history and wealth of natural resources, could produce high quality spirits. This was proven with the successful launch of Selkirk Gin.
The main botanical in Selkirk Gin grows wild on the rolling lowland hills of Selkirkshire. The gorse flower, known as the golden flower of Thor, is handpicked by the creators before being used as one of the main botanicals in Selkirk Gin.
Selkirk Distillers' next creation was launched in December 2017. Bannock Gin also had its base ingredient deeply rooted in Selkirk. The Bannock used in the process comes from Cameron's Bakery in Selkirk, home of the original bannock. The first batch of this delightful ‘bannock in a bottle’ almost sold out in one day.
The owners of Selkirk Distillery have always held a keen desire to help support charities close to their hearts. This has been instrumental in the production of three official fundraising gins. 1953 - MS Society Gin, The Thin Blue Line Gin and Tilda’s Tipple - Brain Tumour Charity Gin. Over £10,000 has been raised so far through these charity gins with donations continuing to be made with each sale.
As well as using locally sourced ingredients, Selkirk Distillers have embraced local artists when it comes to label designs for their core and seasonal gins. Notably talented tattoo artist, Conor McAllister, who is responsible for Selkirk and Bannock Gin designs and specially commissioned artwork from renowned artist Rob Hain for their Seasonal and Cask Aged Gin labels.
Meet the team...
Selkirk Distillers is a small, family run business comprising of married couple Jane Gentleman & Allan Walker who are joined by Jane’s sister, Emma.
Allan Walker
Allan
Allan is one of the main founders of Selkirk Distillers Ltd, along with his wife, Jane.
Born in Cyprus, Allan grew up an RAF BRAT, frequently moving around the world until eventually, in his mid- teens, the family settled in Bonnie Scotland.
Allan joined Lothian and Borders Police in June 1979. While still a serving officer Allan set up the charity, ‘Rwanda School Aid’. Rwanda School Aid enabled a group of young people from Scotland to travel to Rwanda, supporting Allan’s building project to enhance the playground facilities at a Rwandan Primary School. The venture was a huge success, and following Allan’s retirement from the police after 32 years’ service, he was again encouraged to take a group of young Scots to Rwanda, this time to help build a school!
On this second project, Allan realised, that with (a little) more time on hands, he could develop his links to Rwanda further, promoting the cause on home soil thus the organisation ‘Build Rwanda’ was born. He reached out to a number of small suppliers in Rwanda and began selling Rwandan jewellery, wooden crockery and baskets at markets across Scotland.
Allan quickly found he enjoyed being on a market stall; he loved to talk to new people, and introduce them to his products. The market quickly expanded to include African sauces which were a huge hit. The success of the sauces led Allan to introduce more food and drink to his stall, namely Scottish produce.
It was at an event he discovered his love of gin and was fortunate to meet Tony Reeman-Clark from Strathearn distillery and started selling their gin at events. It was at one such event that Allan met Jane, the co-founder of Selkirk Distillers. Jane shared Allan’s passion for quality gin - and quite liked Allan too…
Allan and Jane’s relationship grew, and they married in 2017; a pinnacle year not just for Allan and Jane, but also for Selkirk Gin.
September 2017 was the long-awaited launch of the couple’s first gin, Reivers Gin (later renamed Selkirk Gin - that’s a long story!). The gin was made possible with the support and guidance of Tony Reeman-Clark and a LOT of encouragement from Jane.
Allan’s aim is to put Selkirk on the map and to use as much local history (and ingredients) to develop new and exciting products. Allan and Jane have enjoyed growing the business together and encourage each other every step of the way.
Jane Gentleman
Jane
Jane a retired community staff nurse, has lived in Selkirk most of her life and she is one of the daughters of the late Rev Bill Gentleman, a “weel kent” man in Selkirk. It was important to Jane that the distillery, and the spirits that were created there, would foster the historical and cultural significance of Selkirk in particular, and the Scottish Borders as a whole. Thus, Jane is pleased that encouraging her husband Allan to follow the dream of distilling their own gin has resulted in their family business being established in the beautiful Philiphaugh Estate.
Jane has actively supported a variety of charities in the past, including taking part in the Moonwalk, volunteering to help the homeless, and helping with AIDS awareness projects. The support she herself has received from the MS Society since her diagnosis made her determined to fundraise for them too. This is how the 1953 MS Gin was born. The 1953 is not only a truly unique and aromatic gin, the sale of each bottle contributes to the MS society.
Jane’s role in the company is limited due to her MS diagnosis but she still manages to be an integral part of the idea and planning process in each project - and she is keen to ensure that Allan and Emma always have a LIST of duties to complete. She also continues to help with the foraging of local botanicals – and making sure everyone has coffee and scones.
Emma Gentleman
Emma
Emma joined the team in 2018 becoming the main distiller at Selkirk Distillery. Since leaving Selkirk in her teens, Emma has travelled all over the world whilst managing studies in Horticulture and Plant Science, plus a few obscure jobs in between to fund her travels.
Having finally settled on the Isle of Skye for a few years she then made the move back to Selkirk in order to join the distillery team and make good use of her botanical knowledge. Coming equipped with a BSc in Plant Science it seemed fitting that she would study further and successfully gained her MSc in Brewing & Distilling from Heriot Watt University in 2020.
Emma is a bit of an all rounder with years of experience in customer service, shipping management and a fairly good grasp of all things techy. She continues to study plants and distillation with hopes to start foraging locally grown botanicals within Philiphaugh grounds that will inspire new products for the distillery.
She very much enjoys the coffee and scones provided at work.
What's Next?
After the success of their two gins, Selkirk Distillers knew that the next step was to create Selkirk’s first legal still.......Their dream: a small distillery producing the Finest Borders’ Spirits.
It was not long before they discovered the perfect venue: The Old Joinery on the Philiphaugh Estate, owned by Sir Michael Gavin Strang-Steele. The building comprises enough space for the distillery that the couples’ dreamt of, the perfect setting for Selkirk’s first Lowland Distillery. They have been happily distilling there since March 2019.
Within walking distance, the walled gardens on Philiphaugh Estate have provided inspirational ingredients for seasonal liqueurs. Handpicked fruits and herbs have been used in small batches of White Currant & Mint, Sloe Berry & Spiced Apple and Plum and Bramble liqueurs just to name a few.
A Little Bit of History…
Philiphaugh Estate is near the site of The Battle of Philiphaugh, which was fought on 13 September 1645 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. On that day the Royalist Army of the Marquis of Montrose was defeated by the Covenanter Army of Sir David Leslie, thus restoring the power of the Committee of Estates.
Selkirk is in the heart of the Scottish Borders. The town's name means "kirk of the forest". It is home to Scotland's oldest horse racing track, the Gala Rig, on the outskirts of the town. Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Marquis of Montrose and the Outlaw Murray all had connections with Selkirk. It is the site of the first Borders abbey and it is reputed that William Wallace was declared Guardian of Scotland in Selkirk’s Old Kirk (perhaps the town’s greatest claim to fame).
Selkirk’s most famous figures are the explorer Mungo Park; the poet and writer James Hogg (known as "The Ettrick Shepherd"); and Sir Walter Scott, a writer of romances in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Today, Selkirk is probably best known for its bannock, which is a tasty fruitcake. Bannock Gin was crafted from this same cake.
With this impressive heritage it seems only right that Selkirk should be the home to one of Scotland’s newest distilleries.