The Secret Garden Distillery, based at Lothianburn, near Edinburgh, was launched on a derelict plot in 2012, using 600 varieties of plants harvested on site.

Opus Restructuring & Insolvency has been appointed liquidator following the disilltery’ failure to raise additional investment from a third party.

A spokesperson for the liquidators told The Herald: “Gareth Wilcox and Mark Harper of Opus Restructuring & Insolvency were appointed joint liquidators of Secret Garden Distillery, following the director’s concluding that the company must cease trading and enter creditors’ voluntary liquidation.

“The withdrawal of the interested party and absence of any likely alternative gave rise to the decision that there was no option but to commence liquidation proceedings.”

All employees, including the directors, were made redundant. A disposal of assets is in process with no certainty over the site.

The Midlothian distillery was named UK Gin Producer of the Year 2025 by the IWSC & Club Oenologique, which it said is “an award judged solely on liquid quality.” It has received other recognition from the industry.