What made you start Buddies Gin? How did the idea come about?
As many people experienced, lockdown brought boredom, frustration, and a lot of free time. Every Friday, my business partner and I would have an online call to talk business — naturally accompanied by a G&T… or two.
One evening, we went off-topic and started chatting about our favourite gins. As two Paisley Buddies and lifelong St. Mirren fans, we realised our hometown didn’t have a gin of its own — and we weren’t happy about that. So, the idea for Buddies Gin was born.
Tell us about Buddies Gin
Buddies Gin is a small-batch, craft gin created in Scotland — and it’s very, very moreish. It’s smooth, subtle, and perfectly balanced. Even non-gin drinkers have told us, “I don’t normally like gin, but I love Buddies.”
Why 'Buddies'? Where does that phrase come from?
It’s a Paisley thing. “Paisley Buddies” refers to people from the town, and we loved the idea of a gin that brings people together in celebration of our heritage. Everyone needs a gin buddy — so why not become a Paisley Buddy?
And tell us about you — who is behind Buddies Gin?
There are two of us: David (me, also known as Monty) and Stanley. I grew up in Paisley and have supported St. Mirren thanks to my dad. I’m proud of the town’s history and wanted to showcase it. Our bottle design and branding were inspired by the famous Paisley Pattern, beautifully illustrated by artist Paisley Power.
What’s your favourite thing about working with gin?
People get really excited about gin. Telling friends and family we were launching our own gin led to lots of enthusiastic “tasters”! We love seeing Buddies Gin recognised and enjoyed. There’s no better feeling than hearing, “Oh, you’re Buddies Gin? I love that gin!”
How did you come up with the flavours and botanicals?
We teamed up with award-winning Persie Distillery. After experimenting with dozens of ingredients (and enjoying ourselves quite a bit), we landed on a perfect recipe.
Our gin is juniper-led and supported by angelica, coriander, cardamom, and cassia bark — subtle, traditional, and brilliantly smooth. We tested three final blends with our “gin critics” (aka our parents and friends), and the clear winner became Buddies Gin.
How do you recommend drinking it?
Our go-to serve is with light tonic and a slice of lemon. But we’ve loved seeing the community get creative — apple and pomegranate are popular garnishes too!
You can find cocktail recipes on our website if you’re feeling adventurous.
When did Buddies Gin launch?
It was a bit of an accident! Our good friend Mark Rowley (actor in The Last Kingdom and a proud Paisley Buddie) shared a photo of our bottle to his 300,000 followers on Instagram — before we’d officially launched.
The first order came from the Philippines, for a gift to someone in Scotland. We were stunned. That’s when we knew Buddies Gin had global potential.
We officially launched just in time for Christmas 2020.
What has the feedback been like?
Overwhelmingly positive. From the label design (thank you Paisley Power) to the brand story (written by Jennifer at Black & White Marketing), people have really connected with the look and feel of Buddies.
Most of all, they’ve loved the taste — and the story behind it. It’s more than gin. It’s a community.
Where can people buy the gin?
You can order Buddies Gin online for UK delivery or click-and-collect in Paisley from White Cart Company, 30 High Street, PA1 2BZ.
What’s next for Buddies Gin?
We started in Paisley — now we’re reaching customers around the world. We've had interest from the US and Canada, and we’re just getting started.
We’re proud of our hometown and proud of our gin. And when you put the two together, you get something really special.
Cheers, Buddies.
– Monty @buddiesgin