Eddie Izzard launches limited edition gin 

Edinburgh Gin has teamed up with Eddie Izzard to create a new bespoke botanical mix and limited-edition bottle of gin.

The Ian Macleod owned gin brand will launch the new limited-edition gin designed in collaboration with the comedian, actor and writer Izzard with every penny of profit set to be donated to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society to support artists.

According to the company, Izzard “was a natural choice of partner for Edinburgh Gin” and has stated that “working together, they have co-crafted a one-off recipe and bottle design” which Izzard “hopes the funds raised will help give others an opportunity to bring to life their own self-belief on the stage at the career-defining Edinburgh Festival Fringe”.

The gin includes classic Edinburgh Gin botanicals: juniper, coriander seed, angelica, liquorice and orris but also includes additional botanicals, the initial letters of which spell out the word “Believe” using: Bladderwrack Seaweed, Elderflower, Lemon myrtle, Inca berries, Echinacea, Verbena and Elderberries.

Izzard, who has noted the preferred pronouns she/her over the past few years, added in a social media post back in June that she would rather be called “Suzy”, a name that she had wanted to be called since she was 10 year’s old, according to Sky News.

Referencing the Edinburgh Gin and festival collaboration, Ian Macleod reiterated the importance of the word “believe” for Izzard and highlighted how “she has used this word throughout her life when seeking strength for challenges she has faced. The bottle itself is also a crafted piece of art that brings to life the gin in a truly eye-catching design, with the carefully chosen botanicals surrounding a beautiful sketch of Eddie as she gazes out to the distance with a bracelet celebrating her new chosen name, Suzy”.

Speaking about the launch, Izzard said: “I was very happy to be asked to work on a new distinct recipe and limited-edition bottle of Edinburgh Gin as I am a patron of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – the largest arts festival in the world – and because the profits from the sales are going to help new generations of acts starting their careers there.”

Izzard explained: “As someone who performed from 1981 in 12 Festival Fringe shows over 13 years, I have a strong connection with the great historical city of Edinburgh. The seven letters of ‘believe’ each represent a different botanical that has gone into the creation of the new and limited-edition recipe. This means a lot to me as I have performed in different languages, acted in a lot of films and run multiple marathons despite many setbacks, but I know anything is possible if you believe.”

Karen Crowley, brand director at Edinburgh Gin, added: “We have worked together closely to make sure this is a design and recipe we are all really proud of. We’re delighted to be able to offer the profits of the bottle to the next generation of talent, and continue giving a helping hand to the future Eddie Izzards of the world.”

The new gin will be available from the Edinburgh Gin shop and distillery in Edinburgh’s city centre and via the Edinburgh Gin webshop retailing at £35 per bottle and will be limited to a run of only 2,400 bottles.

This is the second in a series of special collaborations, the first being with Phoebe Waller Bridge in 2021 when the Edinburgh Gin Presents initiative was launched.