Snail Sale - The Gin That Marks a Historic Paisley Legal Case
Excerpt:
A limited-edition Buddies Gin celebrates the 90th anniversary of the world-famous Donoghue v Stevenson “snail in the bottle” case — with donations supporting future lawyers.
Snail Sale: New Gin Marks Historic Paisley Legal Case
Originally published in The Herald, December 2021
When May Donoghue visited a Paisley café in 1928, she could never have imagined that her ginger beer would spark one of the most important legal cases in history.
After discovering a decomposing snail in her bottle, she sued the manufacturer — setting a global precedent in the law of negligence. The “snail in the bottle” case, Donoghue v Stevenson, is now taught to law students around the world.
Gin Meets Law
To commemorate the 90th anniversary of this iconic case, Buddies Gin partnered with the LawScot Foundation to create a limited run of just 100 bottles of Donoghue v Stevenson Gin – and no, there are no snails included.
Part of the proceeds from each bottle support the Foundation’s work in helping aspiring lawyers from less-advantaged backgrounds access the legal profession.
Why It Matters
Kerri Montgomery of the LawScot Foundation said:
“Lawyers all over the world know of the ‘snail in the bottle’ case, but they may not know Mrs Donoghue was a Paisley Buddy.
It’s only fitting that Buddies Gin and the LawScot Foundation partnered to produce this wonderful premium gin.
It celebrates history while supporting the future of law.”
The gin launched just in time for Christmas, making it a perfect gift for legal professionals, historians, and lovers of Paisley heritage alike.
A Landmark Moment in Legal History
The case began at the Wellmeadow Café in Paisley. After Mrs Donoghue topped up her glass, a decomposing snail emerged from the bottle. She hadn't purchased the drink herself — her friend had — so her right to sue was in question.
The case travelled all the way to the House of Lords.
On May 26, 1932, Lord Atkin delivered the landmark ruling:
“You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbour.”
This “neighbour principle” became the foundation of modern negligence law.
A Paisley Gin for the History Books
David Montgomery, Director of Buddies Gin, shared:
“We are proud to celebrate an iconic legal case born in our hometown. This limited-edition gin honours Paisley’s heritage and supports Scotland’s future legal talent.”
🍸 Shop the Limited-Edition Bottle
👉 Order your Donoghue v Stevenson Gin here
UK delivery and click-and-collect in Paisley available.