The event, hosted by Jean Urquhart MSP, showcased products from 11 producing distilleries, to a wide range of industry representatives, press and politicians.
SCDA is a members association of craft distillers, both those in production and those still in development, as well as related industries and other interested parties.
It aims to help develop and promote genuine craft distillers, acting as an industry voice and a knowledge-sharing base for distillers, as well as working with government and academia to ensure progress in the sector.
To date, SCDA has been supported by various organisations including Think Local Scotland, Market Driven Supply Chain and Interface.
SCDA has recently formed a trading arm, Scottish Craft Distillers Limited, which has already celebrated success by receiving an order, for bottles from various members, out to Belgium, and they have just returned from To The Table, a trade show in Dubai, where distributors have already been asked about stocking product from SCDA members.
The SCDA's membership includes a growing list of small Scottish distilleries including:
• Strathearn Distillery
• Glasgow Distillery Company Limited
• Crossbill Highland Distilling
• Dunnet Bay Distillers Ltd.
• Arbikie Highland Estate
• Summerhall Distillery
• Ogilvy Spirits Ltd.
• The Shetland Distillery Company
• Eden Mill Distillery and Brewery
• NB Gin
• Strathleven Distillers Co Ltd
• The Spencerfield Spirit Company Ltd
• Dark Matter Distillers
Tony Reeman-Clark, Chair of SCDA explains: "Scottish Craft Distillers Association has been the result of two years of work by many parties, and now it's fair to say that we are a credible presence in the quality spirits marketplace.
"Our members are producing gins, rums, vodka and whisky, and helping to reestablish craft distilling in Scotland as an important sector in its own right within the global drinks industry. We are delighted to have the support of so many, and this event is a great way to toast a bright future for the Scottish craft distilling sector"
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Hand-crafted Scottish gins, vodkas and whiskies, made with quality local ingredients, are growing in popularity across Scotland and the world and winning many awards.
"As Scotland celebrates our Year of Food and Drink, I would like to congratulate the Scottish Craft Distillers Association for the success already achieved. I am confident the sector will continue to grow and thrive, and exceed estimates that it will be worth £50 million in five years' time."
The event was hosted by Jean Urquhart MSP for Highlands & Islands: “I am delighted to be welcoming the Scottish Craft Distillers Association to the parliament and very excited to learn more about these new products in what I do know is a niche, but sustainable market. Speaking as someone who, this job apart, has spent most of my working life as a licensee, it is a delight to know that we have so many new drinks to offer and all of them ‘Made in Scotland’.
"But not just that, these drinks are the real deal. Extremely good quality and easy for every barperson in the land to say “have you tried this”, confident that they will have a very happy customer. This diversity in the drinks industry (and if I can mention brewing as well as distilling) is a fantastic addition to our food and drink industry which matters a great deal to Scotland."
