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Scottish Spirit, Indian Soul | Rutland Square Story
Some journeys are measured in miles. Ours is measured in memory, flavour and the meeting of two cultures.
Rutland Square Spirits brings together the tea heritage of Assam, India, and the craft of Scottish distilling in Edinburgh. These are not simply two places on a label. They are the roots of our identity and the inspiration behind spirits created to be sipped, savoured and remembered.
This is the story of Scottish spirit and Indian soul - and how two cultures became one brand.
A Story That Begins in Assam
In 1940, Tej Ram Bawa began a family tradition in the spirits trade in Dibrugarh, Assam. Generations later, his great-grandson and Rutland Square's founder Nishant Sharma returned to that heritage with a new ambition: to create a spirit that respected the past while expressing it in a distinctly modern way.
Assam is known around the world for tea, but for Rutland Square, its meaning is personal. It represents family, resilience and a culture in which tea is more than a drink. Chai is a ritual of hospitality - a reason to pause, welcome someone in and share a moment together.
That spirit of connection became the starting point for Rutland Square.
Why Edinburgh - and Why Rutland Square?
Edinburgh gave the idea its craft, structure and home.
Rutland Square is an elegant Georgian square in Edinburgh's West End and the location of the Consulate General of India. For Nishant, it became a natural symbol of relationship at the heart of the brand: India and Scotland meeting in one place.
The name carries that connection into every bottle. Rutland Square's gin and rum are crafted in small batches in Edinburgh, bringing Indian ingredients and chai-inspired warmth into conversation with Scottish distilling expertise.
It is not about choosing one culture over another. It is about creating something original from both.
The Botanical That Connects Both Worlds
At the centre of the Rutland Square flavour is first-flush Oolong White tea from Assam.
Selected for its delicate floral aroma, zesty character and subtle earthy depth, the tea gives our spirits complexity without overwhelming them. It acts as a bridge between familiar and unexpected flavours: between juniper and chai spice, brightness and warmth, Scotland and India.
The tea is carefully hand-plucked by women in Assam's tea gardens. Our commitment to ethical and sustainable sourcing recognises the skill behind every leaf and supports fairer opportunities for the women whose work helps bring our spirits to life.
Explore the story of our Oolong White Tea and 13 botanicals.
A Chai-Spiced Scottish Gin with its Own Identity
The first expression of this cross-cultural idea was Rutland Square Chai-Spiced Scottish Gin.
13 ethically and sustainably sourced botanicals create its layered profile. Juniper provides the foundation, while cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, clove, cubeb pepper, citrus peel and vetiver introduce aromatic warmth and depth. Oolong White Tea brings the composition together with a clean, elegant finish.
Despite the name, "chai-spiced" does not mean intensely hot. The character is balanced and aromatic: bright citrus and floral orange zest on the nose, Oolong depth and warming spice on the palate, followed by sweet spice, liquorice warmth and gentle heat on the finish.
It is a gin designed to reveal itself slowly - beautiful served simply, yet distinctive enough to transform a cocktail.
The Story Continues with Chai-Spiced Scottish Rum
The same philosophy later inspired Rutland Square Chai-Spiced Scottish Rum.
Here, velvety Caribbean molasses meet first-flush Oolong White Tea from Assam. Cardamom and star anise bring aromatic spice, while ginger, vetiver and warm oak add depth to a smooth, lingering finish.
Gin and Rum are different expressions, but their shared identity is unmistakable. Both are shaped by travel, layered flavour and the belief that traditions become richer when they are brought into thoughtful conversation.
More Than a Fusion of Flavours
"Fusion" can sometimes feel like a convenient word. For Rutland Square, the connection runs deeper.
The brand honours a family history that began in Assam while building a contemporary spirits business in Scotland. It celebrates the women behind the tea leaves, the distillers behind each small batch and the rituals that bring people together around a glass.
Every choice-from the origin of the tea to the name on the bottle-belongs to the same story. That authenticity is what makes Rutland Square more than a Scottish Gin or Spiced Rum with Indian ingredients. It is a brand shaped equally by where it comes from and where it is going.
Two Cultures. One Purpose. One Brand
Rutland Square exists between two landscapes: Assam's mist-covered tea gardens and Edinburgh's historic streets.
From India comes the soul of chai, a family legacy and the Oolong White Tea at the heart of our flavour. From Scotland comes distilling craft, precision and a place to create something new. Together, they form spirits that feel both rooted and unexpected.
This is our interpretation of modern luxury: thoughtful ingredients, genuine heritage and flavour with a story worth sharing.
