Taylor is passionate about his artisanal grain-to-glass approach and creating spirits that reflect the place of their birth. If travelling East on the A75 (Dumfries direction), take the last exit from the roundabout at Newton Stewart onto the A714 Wigtown Road and we are first right after 200 yards. Run a lemon wedge around the rim of a margarita-style glass to wet it, then dip it in the seaweed and sea salt mix. It is not driven by marketing – it is driven by taste, and coupling that with how we actually make our gin,” he explains.

At Graham’s command, I rub a few freshly picked fir needles between my fingers and am treated to an aromatic burst of citrusy, coniferous bitterness. Made with a single piece of local Douglas Fir tree and weighing in at over 3 tonnes, it makes a striking centerpeice to our retail area, where you’ll find all our award-winning spirits, branded gifts and premium mixers.

It is really important to have that savoury quality going on because it enhances the flavour of the gin … if you don’t season something, you cannot open up the palate. What’s more, we always go the extra mile at Crafty, so rather than serve a few small gin samples, we’ll take you on a guided tasting through 3x perfect serves of their spirits. The process was clearly explained with humour and great knowledge, the tasting of three different drinks was also well done. Whether you are a whisky novice, a seasoned expert or simply want an authentic Scottish experience, the Crafty Distillery Scotch Whisky Tour has something special for you.

Taylor says, “All of the feedback and the trends showed us clearly what people wanted: a gin with big flavours, but not one that was unbalanced. You’ll find a selection of magazine content, including articles, tastings, plus information about how you can subscribe. Meet our friendly team as you are guided through our innovative approach to making our award-winning gins and vodka, learning each step of the process, driven by our uniquely inclusive approach ‘to create spirits for everyone who likes a tipple’. An autumnal carpet crunches under my boots as I trek up the hill, following my guide, Crafty Distillery founder Graham Taylor, through the Galloway Forest. For all gin fans out there, a very warm welcome awaits you at Crafty Distillery in gorgeous Galloway to join us on a unique tour for your taste buds, where we’ll also share the secrets of our process.A consultation takes place beforehand so staff can learn exactly what guests hope to get out of their experience. A warm Galloway welcome awaits you on this behind the scenes tour at one of Scotland’s most innovative distilleries. Graham is talking to me on the phone from his distillery in Newton Stewart, taking me step-by-step through the Crafty Distillery Gin Escape.