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Gin from an Angus Distillery will go to some of the biggest film stars in the world after being selected by the Oscars for a gift bag for nominees.

This year’s Oscar nominees will be announced on January 23 with Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone, Robert Downey Jr and Cillian Murphy expected to be on this year’s shortlist.

A total of 25 nominees – as well as host Jimmy Kimmel – will receive the exclusive gift bag worth around $125,000.

Among the luxury gifts from all over the world will be a specially created bottle of London Dry Gin from Gin Bothy.

Two years ago a three-night stay at Turin Castle near Forfar was part of the gift bag.  This was claimed to be around $50,000.

As well as private use of the castle, the stay included butler service, gin tasting and a welcome from a bagpiper.

Owner Yvonne Corbett was subsequently approached by the Oscars to ask for her recommendation for a premium Scottish spirit – and Gin Bothy was top of her list.

Gin Bothy owner Kim Cameron said the honour will give the company more credibility as it seeks to increase its sales in the United States.

She said: “I can’t thank Yvonne enough for sending the organisers my way.  It’s an absolute honour.

“They asked if we would put a product in for a tasting and we created a small batch London gin.

It will be a high-end gin made with Scottish heather, Scots pine and rosemary.  It’s a taste of Scotland in a bottle.”

Gin Bothy will celebrate its 10th anniversary later this year, having started in Kim’s kitchen with a raspberry gin created with leftover fruit juice from jam.

It has since opened a visitors’ experience in Glamis with production taking place in Kirriemuir until last year, when it moved to Forfar.

Known for its flavoured gins. the business now has 19 staff and produces 65,000 units a year.  It has export deals in Switzerland, Germany and the US where it is available in 23 states.

“Selling more in America in 2024 is top of our list of priorities,” Kim said.

“We’ve had an exclusive deal with a retailer which has come to an end and so we are now looking at working with more distributors and stores.

“The endorsement of the Oscars will definitely help Gin Bothy.”

Other recent developments have been its Hipflask Spirits range, jam and butter.

Kim said the move to Forfar, which tripled production capabilities, has been a great success.