The company grew from a herb garden founded in 2012 before becoming a popular destination for gin tours and tastings
An award-winning British gin distillery has gone into liquidation after nearly a decade in business.
The family-run company has stopped trading, bringing an end to almost 10 years of producing premium spirits.
Secret Garden Distillery, based in Midlothian, Scotland, confirmed the closure in a statement on its website. It said business advisory firm Opus Restructuring LLP had been appointed to oversee the liquidation.
Gareth David Wilcox and Mark Harper of Opus Restructuring were appointed joint liquidators after creditors voted earlier this month to place the company into creditors' voluntary liquidation.
The reason for the company's collapse has not been disclosed.
Companies House records show its registered address has been changed from Old Pentland Road in Edinburgh to the Glasgow offices of its administrators.
The business was founded by Hamish Martin and grew out of The Secret Herb Garden, a horticultural project launched in 2012.
Located at the foot of the Pentland Hills, the site grew more than 600 varieties of plants and herbs. These were used to make the distillery's range of natural Scottish gins.
The distillery was launched in 2017 under the name The Old Curiosity Distillery before later rebranding as Secret Garden Distillery.
Over the years, it became a popular destination for gin lovers, offering tours and tasting experiences that the company described as "unforgettable".
The distillery garnered numerous accolades throughout its existence, with its spirits recognised at prestigious competitions including the International Wine and Spirit Competition and the Spirits Business Gin Masters.
Its crowning achievement came in 2025 when Secret Garden Distillery was named IWSC UK Gin Producer of the Year, cementing its standing within Scotland's competitive spirits sector.
The venue proved equally successful as a tourist attraction, drawing approximately 20,000 visitors each year to experience its gin-making operations.
On TripAdvisor, the distillery maintained a 4.3 rating from hundreds of reviews, with guests highlighting the "stunning" setting, engaging tastings and the company's commitment to environmental sustainability.
Visitors consistently praised the quality of the gins and the expertise of staff conducting tours.
The distillery also built a strong reputation with visitors, earning praise for its tours, gardens and gin tastings.
One visitor said the experience was outstanding, praising the guide's "passion and knowledge" and describing the tasting as "delicious and informative".
Another called it a "fantastic tour", highlighting the beautiful gardens and knowledgeable staff, while a third described the distillery as "enchanted in the middle of nowhere, but worth the search", adding that the gin was "made with love and our own herbs".
