Grape & Grain, Aberdeen’s multi-award-winning wine bar has been named Gin Bar of the Year at the inaugural Scottish Bar & Brew Awards.
Proprietor Jeanette Forbes picked up the accolade at the awards ceremony which was held in Glasgow this week and was attended by representatives of some of the best bars across the country.
The awards showcase bars that performed well over the past year and were considered the country’s best by members of the public. They also recognise and celebrate top establishments that strive to be different by perhaps serving unique drinks, blended with secret recipes and ingredients or bars with a fantastic atmosphere and sophisticated ambiance.
Grape & Grain consistently stocks around 50 Scottish gins at any one time and works closely with existing and emerging local distilleries to source the new spirits as they become available. It is an approach which has made the bar a premier destination for gin connoisseurs looking to sample Scotland’s finest botanicals.
Since early 2019, Grape & Grain has hosted monthly gin tastings with some of Scotland’s most respected distillers including Rock Rose and Eden Mill.
“We are delighted to win this award,” said Ms Forbes. “It validates the great work our team puts into our gin offering, their expertise and their high level of customer service. It also recognises the promotional work which we do with our local distilleries and our commitment to raising the profile of Scotland’s fantastic botanicals.”
Grape & Grain, which is located on the city’s Thistle Street, has had remarkable success since opening in 2017. Previous awards have included Best Bar in the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards, two-time winner of the Best Wine Selection in the Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards, New Operator of the Year in the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) Scotland Annual Awards and Best Bar in the Trend Life With Style Awards. It was also nominated as one of Scotland’s most stylish bars in the Scottish Style Awards and was the only Aberdeen venue to be featured in the Sunday Herald’s 25 Most Fabulously Fashionable Places to be seen in Scotland.