Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn has secured a three-year deal to become the Official Beer Partner for the Edinburgh Christmas Market and Hogmanay events, complementing its growing roster of prestigious contracts serving high-profile visitor events in the city and across Scotland.
Innis & Gunn, which is headquartered in the Scottish capital and was founded 21 years ago, will now be the beer of choice for the three million plus revellers expected to attend the forthcoming festivities.
This follows a year during which the brand has solidified itself as the official beer partner of some of Scotland’s most important cultural events, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Royal Highland Show and Celtic Connections.
Dougal Gunn Sharp, Innis & Gunn’s founder and master brewer said: “This is one of Scotland’s biggest cultural events, so it’s important that revellers can enjoy a Scottish beer. It’s a huge honour for us to again be named Official Beer Partner of what have become such key events in Edinburgh’s calendar, welcoming a wide range of visitors both local and from much further afield.
“We’re really becoming a key part of showcasing not just Edinburgh, but Scotland and Scottish made beer, on the world stage.”
This festive season, as well as selling a range of its beers, Innis & Gunn will offer a ‘Winter Warmer’ – a Scottish festive tipple, made by infusing Innis & Gunn Original Beer with Monkey Shoulder, a premium Speyside blended malt scotch whisky, spices, and orange zest.
Gunn Sharp, who founded the firm after realising he could mature beer in whisky casks, added: “Everyone has the chance to really get into the festive spirit by enjoying a glass of our Winter Warmer. This is the Scottish alternative to mulled wine. It’s delicious, warming, and sure to put you in the mood for the festivities. This is a delicious time-honoured tonic that has been around for much longer than its modern mulled drink equivalents that rely on wine – and it tastes much better too. We’ve combined the best of Scotland – top quality beer and whisky – to create this phenomenal new winter mulled drink.”
Edinburgh’s Christmas will run from Friday 15 November 2024 to Saturday 4 Jan 2025. In addition to a range of food and drink stands, attractions include The LNER Big Wheel, Scotland’s largest Ferris wheel at 45 metres tall; the funfair in Princes Street Gardens; the illuminated Christmas Tree Maze in St Andrew Square, and the George Street Ice Rink.
In addition, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a four-day event featuring the Concert in the Gardens with headliners Texas and special guest Callum Beattie, the world-famous Street Party with live bands, DJs, street theatre and fireworks, and New Year’s Day featuring free events with live music and family offerings throughout the city centre.
The brewer recently scooped gold in what has been dubbed the ‘Olympics of beer,’ taking home two top gongs at The World Beer Awards. Its Lager Beer was awarded Gold in both the Country and Taste Categories, while The Original placed Silver in the Taste category.
A spokesman for Unique Assembly, the company behind Edinburgh Christmas, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Innis & Gunn to celebrate Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay for the next three years.
“Innis & Gunn are an internationally renowned brewery based right here in Edinburgh and we can’t think of a better way to get into the festive spirit than by enjoying a Winter Warmer across Edinburgh’s Christmas sites this year.”
