First ever Scots tonic water made in Aberdeenshire

THE first tonic water to be made in Scotland has been launched in Aberdeenshire.

The tonic water, left, and the Summerhouse van. Pictures: Contributed

Summerhouse Drinks, based at a farm in Pitsligo, has made a name for itself since launching in 2014, and already produces a traditional Misty Lemonade, Scottish Raspberry Lemonade and a Lavender Lemonade, along with a Hint o’ Mint lemonade.

Started by Claire and Ross Rennie, the firm sells drinks made entirely from natural products.

The new tonic water, named Walter Gregor after a Victorian minister who served the local parish, is made from quinine, cinchona bark, citric acid and a mixture of botanicals.

And the garden of the Manse, where the minister lived, is being used to grow key ingredients for the tonic.

Managing director Claire Rennie said: “We’re so excited to have launched Scotland’s first ever tonic.

“There’s a renaissance of gin drinking in Scotland and indeed the rest of the UK and we look forward to offering a Scottish alternative to the tonics already available.”

Summerhouse was launched in January 2014 on the back of a crowdfunding campaign. The couple travel around various festivals in Scotland in a second-hand van converted to hold a wooden summerhouse on the back.

They sold previous venture Berry Scrumptious to Felicity’s Chocolates in September 2014.