Every great spirit has a story. Ours begins in Greenock — a town on the banks of the River Clyde with an industrial heritage unlike any other in the world.
At the height of the British Empire, the River Clyde was the shipbuilding capital of the world. The yards that lined its banks — from Greenock to Glasgow — produced vessels that sailed every ocean. Liners, battleships, cargo ships that carried goods to every corner of the globe. Towns like Greenock and Port Glasgow weren't just part of that story. They were at the very heart of it.
The Men Who Built the World's Ships
Shipyard Gin was inspired by the people who worked in those yards — men and women who displayed grit, craftsmanship and determination in equal measure. One of those people was John Samuel, who worked as a plater at Scott's Shipbuilding & Engineering in Greenock. John was also a talented centre half who signed for Greenock Morton and later went on to play for Third Lanark. He was the founder's grandfather.
Our founder Andy Samuel grew up in Gourock, Inverclyde in the 80s and 90s, watching the cranes come down and the yards fall silent. As the industry collapsed, so too did a sense of pride and purpose in the area. What was once a thriving, skilled community was left behind. And to this day, the area is still recovering.
Shipyard Gin is Andy's way of honouring that legacy. It's a tribute to the generations who built with their hands, shoulders and steel nerves — and to the towns and cities that still carry their stories. This isn't just a gin. It's a thank you. It's a reminder. And it's a celebration of where we've come from.
The Gin
Shipyard Gin Original is a big, proper classic London Dry. Juniper forward, using hand foraged gorse along with elderflower and heather as key botanicals, with loads of citrus peel to create an excellently balanced gin. Multi-award winning from the London Spirits Awards, Global Gin Masters and finalists at the Scottish Gin Awards.
Our second release, Hale Moku, was inspired by another remarkable chapter in Clyde shipbuilding history. The Falls of Clyde was built in Port Glasgow in 1878 and went on to sail the world's oceans for over a century. In 2025, she was finally scuttled off the coast of Hawaii. We named our flavoured gin Hale Moku — meaning House of Ships in Hawaiian — in her honour. A vibrant blend of pineapple, passionfruit and raspberry, it won Silver at the Gin Cooperation Best Flavoured Gin of the Year 2025.
The Bottle as Canvas
When we launched, we wanted the bottle to tell the story that helped inspire the gin — bustling Clyde shipyards, cranes, the fanfare of high profile launches. So we turned to Robert Kelsey, one of Scotland's most celebrated artists, renowned for his serene beachscapes, and gave him complete creative freedom.
Robert chose to paint the launch of the Cunard ocean liner Queen Mary from the Clyde, one of the most iconic moments in Scotland's shipbuilding history. The result was a masterpiece that captured both the grandeur of the occasion and the spirit of a country that built the world's greatest ships. Just 100 bottles were released. They sold out within days.
Our second limited edition was created in partnership with Greenock Morton FC — a club with deep roots in the same community that inspired the gin. The bottle featured a stunning aerial photograph of Cappielow Park printed on the inside of the glass. We also became proud sponsors of the club.
What's Next
From the start, we have held a clear ambition to open a craft distillery on the banks of the River Clyde, close to where our story began. We want to build a place that brings people together — a home for our gin that welcomes visitors, supports local jobs, and adds to the growing tourism of Scotland's west coast. Just as the shipyards once shaped this community, we hope our distillery will be a new chapter in its story.
We distil in small batches, hand-select every botanical, and take time to get every detail right.
Slàinte.