A COUPLE from Bridge of Allan are seeking a UK distributor for a new gin they invented in their kitchen after selling more than 1,000 bottles of the artisan tipple in just eight weeks.

June and Cameron McCann hope to sell their Stirling Gin throughout the UK and aim to build their own distillery in the city in the next two years.

“Up to this point demand has been driven by word of mouth, with 14 off licences and eight hotels contacting us directly through social media looking to stock our gin,” Mr McCann explained. “As interest continues to increase, the next stage is to sit down and work out a distilling plan for 2016 that will allow us to roll the product out throughout the UK and potentially overseas.”

The gin, which features the National Wallace Monument and Stirling Bridge on the label, includes crushed local nettle leaves and was chosen after testing 50 different recipe tweaks.

“The idea to include nettle, which we believe is unique to our gin, came from a desire to include a local hand foraged botanical which would add some spice,” Mr McCann said. “Our recipe was then up-scaled so that the Glasgow Distillery (the first new distillery in Glasgow for over 100 years when it was launched in 2014), which makes our gin at the moment, could replicate what we’d produced at home.”

The couple, who already run The Stirling Whisky Shop on the city’s Spittal Street, set up the operation with advice from Business Gateway.

“Cameron and June have turned their passion for one of the nation’s favourite spirits into a business that has the potential to enliven palates the world over,” said Business Gateway adviser Sandy Slater. “As and when they push their distillery plans forward we will be on hand to offer further advice if they need it.”

The craze for craft gin helped push gin sales in the UK above £1billion last year.