In 2012, Hamish Martin acquired a plot of land on the outskirts of Edinburgh. With over 30 years of experience in the drinks trade and a herbology diploma, Martin began to experiment with creating his own gins. In doing so, he discovered a natural reaction completely caused by mother nature, and that was a natural colour change!
However, it wasn’t until Steve Ross joined the group as a volunteer in 2016 to learn more about the powers of herbs. Steve owned a successful bar in South London, and had already spent two decades working within the events industry and as a mixologist. With the combined experience of Martin and Ross, Old Curiosity Distillery was officially launched in 2017.
The Secret Herb Garden has over 600 naturally grown and tendered varieties of herbs and the UKs biggest crop of apothecary roses and 2,000 juniper bushes to make the colour changing gins. Not a single chemical is used in the tending of the garden.
In 2021, the Old Curiosity Distillery changed its name to the Secret Garden Distillery and appointed a new managing director, André de Almeida.