Will Lynch
October 20, 2023

Gin Bothy Preserves Angus Butter-Making Tradition with Launch of Bothy Butter

Gin Bothy Preserves Angus Butter-Making Tradition with Launch of Bothy Butter

March 29, 2023
In a heartwarming tale of tradition meets innovation, Gin Bothy, the prestigious Scottish spirits manufacturer, is branching out with a venture that honors a local culinary heritage. They are introducing Bothy Butter, a handcrafted artisan butter that breathes new life into the centuries-old butter-making practices of Angus.

In a heartwarming tale of tradition meets innovation, Gin Bothy, the prestigious Scottish spirits manufacturer, is branching out with a venture that honors a local culinary heritage. They are introducing Bothy Butter, a handcrafted artisan butter that breathes new life into the centuries-old butter-making practices of Angus.

Kim Cameron, the founder of Gin Bothy and dubbed an 'accidental gin-maker', started her journey in 2015 in a small kitchen in Kirriemuir, Angus Glens. Her innovative use of leftover fruit juice from jam-making sparked the creation of Gin Bothy Raspberry Gin, marking the beginning of a flavored spirits trend in Scotland.

The brand, now a household name in Scotland for its premium gin and rum, produces over 65,000 units annually, with a reach that extends beyond the UK. As they gear up to boost their production with a new 14,000-square meter facility in Forfar, Angus, they're also embracing the local dairy legacy with the introduction of Bothy Butter.

This new butter is crafted from a 45-year-old family recipe, a treasured possession from North Street Dairy, the last family-run dairy in Angus, which closed after 104 years. The Millar family, descendants of the dairy's founders, provided not only the recipe but also the traditional butter-churner to ensure the continuation of their craft.

Handmade with attention to detail in Forfar, Bothy Butter is a partnership with Blackthorn Salt, the world's only working salt thorn tower. The use of Scottish cream and organic salt is expected to yield a butter with a truly rich and luxurious taste.

Forfar's historic Buttermarket, once the heart of local produce trade, will witness the revival of its butter-making tradition as Bothy Butter's production begins mere steps away.

Kim Cameron expressed her excitement and pride in keeping alive the local traditions and the Millar family's recipe. Through hands-on demonstrations in their Bothy Tales room, they've already begun celebrating Angus's butter-making roots.

Hamish Millar, of North Street Dairy, is thrilled that his family's recipe—originating from his grandmother and mother's kitchen experiments with surplus cream—will endure. He has full confidence in Cameron's passion and dedication to making Bothy Butter a success, anticipating that her unique twist with Blackthorn Salt will maintain the beloved traditional essence while adding a distinctive touch.

This story isn't just about the birth of a new product; it's a tribute to the legacy of a community, the fusion of old and new, and the continuation of a family's story through the love of good food.


Sources: https://retailtimes.co.uk/award-winning-spirits-manufacturer-gin-bothy-keeps-the-angus-butter-making-tradition-alive-with-launch-of-bothy-butter/