We need a lot of lemon thyme. As well as growing it in our own polytunnels and gardens, the ever-generous Jura community have lent us space in their veg beds and greenhouses across the island. Lemon thyme has a glorious citrus kick with a fresh, herby twang; it defines the character of Lussa Gin.

Coriander grows really well in our polytunnels – and it's a vital ingredient in our gin. It adds to the citrus notes and gives a little spicy warmth.

Fragrant petals add a floral character, and along with rosehips, rose petals give Lussa gin a smoothness, marrying together the many individual flavours.

With its sherbert smell and zingy taste, lemon balm was an easy choice for our gin. We harvest it in summer and impatiently await its emergence the following spring.

Our bees adore lime flowers, but they can spare a few for our gin. We find the flowers’ subtle sweet notes a perfect balance to the more robust botanicals of Lussa Gin.

There are elder trees hiding here and there around our island. Their flowers are perfect for making cordial and champagne, and add a hint of summer to Lussa Gin.

When the honeysuckle blooms emerge it feels like summer has hit its peak. Its sweet scent mingles with the other smells of the woods when it weaves its magic in Lussa Gin.

Many people find squelching through bogs one of the least pleasant things about walking on Jura. We beg to differ. Bog myrtle keeps the Scottish midge at bay AND smells sublime.

We can harvest the bulbous orris roots after 2 years. Then 3 – 5 years of drying begins to reveal the oxidised compound that holds all the flavours and acts as a molecular glue.

Juniper has grown in Scotland since the last ice age; but is currently under threat from disease. We’ve started a long-term project to propagate cuttings of Jura juniper and we have planted 500 Argyll-grown juniper around the Lussa Glen. If we're lucky, we may harvest in 2022.

Water mint - rarely do you see it first: your nose is the best forager once your footsteps have crushed some. We like the freshness it brings to Lussa Gin.

The sea is part of island life. We wanted a hint of sea spray in Lussa Gin. We found that a small amount of the vibrant green sea lettuce was just right, and we love hunting it out.

The flavour of Scots pine builds on juniper's distinctive pine notes. The one difficulty is harvesting the needles, as the branches are often so high up!

Ground elder: this weed (and ancient vegetable) plagues many a garden, but if you've ever inhaled its fragrance when pulling it up in spring you’ll understand how well it works in gin.

Wild rose pops up in the least expected places and provides an abundance of hips that contribute a smooth tone to Lussa Gin.

Explore the wilderness of the Isle of Jura for a distilled experience

We’re inspired and enchanted by our home and have created a premium spirit that captures its wilderness. Our distillery is situated at Ardlussa, 25 miles along the single track road from the Jura ferry. Take your time and enjoy the views. We make Lussa Gin using 15 botanicals that we're able to grow here on Jura in our maritime temperate climate.

If you're looking for a gin with a good story to tell, Lussa is the one.

Book a distillery tour today

If you have mobility issues, please contact us in advance. The tour takes approximately 45 minutes. Please note dogs are not permitted in the distillery.

Lussa Distillery - Group

Our botanical harvest

We gather ten wild botanicals from the Lussa Glen and its nearby hills, lochs and wetlands, woods and the sea. We grow another five botanicals ourselves. There are only four botanicals we can't grow enough of yet, so we buy from trusted suppliers while we increase the amount we can grow.

Blending our ingredients

Leaves, needles, flowers, cones, seeds and petals are added to our traditional pot along with neutral spirit and soft, crystal clear spring water from the hills of Ardlussa. Our pot is a traditional Portuguese, handcrafted, 200 litre alembic copper pot still – called Hamish.

Lussa Distillery - Blending our ingredients
Lussa Distillery - Distillation

Distillation

Our botanicals macerate overnight in the pot and the next day the flowers and petals go in a basket that sits above the pot; their flavours and aromas are released into the vapour as it passes. The still is sealed with a mix of rye flour and water. We warm the mix using a bain-marie and gently distil the spirit over the course of a day.

Ready to bottle

Once our hand-crafted gin is distilled, it is ready to be bottled onsite and each batch is hand numbered, ready to be enjoyed the world over. A fresh, zesty, aromatic gin with a subtle, smooth finish. The spirit of the wilderness of the Isle of Jura.

Lussa Distillery - Ready to bottle
Explore the island
Meet the team