Edinburgh Gin founder joins Lux food and drink agency

The founder of Edinburgh Gin has joined food and drinks agency Lux as a non-executive director after buying a six-figure stake in the business and selling his spirits brand.

Nicol sold Edinburgh Gin to Ian Macleod Distillers in 2016.

Alex Nicol, who launched Edinburgh Gin in 2010, bought a minority stake in the agency as he hands over his business to Ian Macleod Distillers.

As a non-executive director, Nicol will sit on the board with to advise on the business operations and marketing, lending his expertise from working in the food and drink industry over the last 30 years.

Lux, which was launched by Mhairi MacLeod and Alice Will in 2012, has an annual turnover of £1.6 million, alongside a portfolio of clients including Brewdog, Edinburgh Gin, Gaucho, Dishoom, Mackays and Zero Waste Scotland.

Lux will use the investment to grow its senior team and finance the opening of its second UK office in London.

Six years after launching Edinburgh Gin, Alex and Jane decided to sell the Fife-based Spencerfield spirit company which owned the brand to Ian MacLeod Distillers.

At the time of the deal, Ian Macleod Distillers told the BBC that  Edinburgh Gin’s founders, Alex and Jane Nicol, would continue to work with the brands during a transition period.

Nicol said that the agency was: “instrumental” to the success of Edinburgh Gin in the run up to the brand’s launch.

“As a result, I could see the vision and talent they have to grow this business.”

Alice Will, co-founder of Lux, said: “Given the background Alex has working with some of the biggest drinks brands in the world, his experience will be invaluable.