Inspired by a visit to a gin bar and fueled by a desire to create something unique, Nicola Finney embarked on a path that led to the creation of her own distinctive craft gin brand in October 2023.
Nicola said: “My journey began with a spark of inspiration during a night out with friends at a gin bar in Staffordshire.”
This initial idea evolved into a fully-fledged business when Nicola returned to Scotland in 2021.
With the support of her husband and three sons, Nicola delved into the world of craft gin, attending courses with distilling experts and experimenting with recipes to create her own unique blends.
A far cry from her previous career as a Head Teacher.
The name ‘Collymoon Craft Gin’ was chosen as a nod to Nicola’s home, Collymoon House, emphasising the craft nature of the business and its commitment to authenticity.
Her award winning first product Gealach Úr, translates as new moon – reflecting both the new venture and its location.
Nicola said: “We’ve built the business from scratch; it has been so fulfilling to see everything from the recipes to the labels on the bottles come to life.”
Each bottle is carefully crafted, with Nicola personally signing every label, adding a personal touch that resonates with customers.
Nicola also offers bespoke bottles of gin for special occasions such as birthdays, weddings and corporate events – a unique and memorable gift that can be adapted to reflect individual style and taste preferences.
Collymoon Craft Gin is deeply rooted in the local community, evidenced by its sponsorship of events like the Buchlyvie 10k and collaborations with other local businesses.
Nicola said: “By supporting and collaborating with local producers and establishments, we’re strengthening our ties to the local community and getting our brand name out there.”
Nicola is also keen to collaborate with local high end self-catering establishments and hospitality businesses to enhance the guest experience by offering bespoke welcome packs featuring her artisanal gin.
With a strong commitment to sustainability, Collymoon Craft Gin uses recycled materials for packaging and sources botanicals ethically, ensuring the preservation of natural resources.
Nicola’s foraging expeditions with local expert Lauren Lochrie not only contribute to the unique flavours of her gin but also promote responsible sourcing practices.
Nicola explained, “I try as far as possible to find and forage for my botanicals locally and use these when creating my test batches; but for the actual gin, I source these ingredients from ethical suppliers so as not to strip the natural resources locally and ensure the highest quality gin.”
In January 2024, Collymoon Craft Gin was honoured with a Bronze Award at the World Gin Awards, a testament to the quality and craftsmanship of Nicola’s creations. With the competition attracting 900 entries over 47 categories across 12 countries, she was ‘over the moon’ with the recognition.
Looking ahead, Nicola envisions expanding her business with the establishment of a micro-distillery at her Port of Menteith home, allowing for greater experimentation and the development of new flavours.
With plans for signature blends like the London Dry/Scottish gin and a naturally pink gin in the pipeline, which Nicola hopes customers will love.
Nicola added: “I’m also planning another unique gin, Marinen which will be infused with seaweed, cloud berries and cinnamon.
“The name translates to navy and will be in memory of my Norwegian grandfather.”
Nicola Finney
+44 (0) 7891 037074
collymooncraft@gmail.com
www.collymooncraft.com
