AMBITIOUS plans could see East Lothian become home to a new brand of gin.

Fidra Gin is the brainchild of Emma Bouglet and Jo Brydie and is currently based at Ballencrieff and Aviemore.

The duo came together to create the juniper berry-based drink and have already enjoyed immediate success, with the product already available in a number of Edinburgh restaurants.

Now they are hoping to make it 100 per cent based in the county, with plans under way to find suitable premises.

Emma said: “We pick all the botanicals in East Lothian and, at the moment, we use a still in Aviemore.

“A friend has lent us his still for the time being so we can get enough momentum behind us and bring the whole operation to East Lothian.

“We have potentially secured a premise in East Lothian. We are hoping to purchase a couple of stills so the whole operation is based in East Lothian.

“We have had health and safety out and given it the go-ahead but there are a few bits and pieces to be sorted.”

The duo aim to have the new distillery open before the end of the year.

Before Christmas, Emma and Jo, 43, were in the process of getting more than 200 bottles ready.

Emma was delighted to say that had proven a great success, with the bottles selling out within a matter of hours after they were launched.

Since then, more than 400 bottles have been produced and sold.

Emma said their Scottish dry gin was “very botanical” and added: “It is quite a smooth gin, with a hint of sea buckthorn.”

The move into the gin business is something of a departure from their day jobs, with the duo aiming to make it their full-time business.

Emma used to work as an investment banker before switching to becoming a childminder, while Jo runs her freelance podiatry from Longniddry, occasionally working in the local clinic, and before then she worked at Musselburgh Racecourse.

Emma, 43, said: “Me and Jo have known each other for years. Our kids are very good friends and my husband – who owns a wine company in Fife – knew Jo from her time at the racecourse.”