Scottish distiller uses by-products from gin distilling to create Botanical Beard Balm
Illicit Spirits stated that they take the residue left in their gin still, filtering out the solids (which are then composted) before reducing the resulting liquid down to a syrup to concentrate the essential oils.
This is then mixed with Argan oil, Shea butter and Beeswax to create a natural balm that "enhances and nourishes beards".
Darran Edmond, who founded the distillery in a railway arch in Glasgow last year after graduating from Heriot-Watt and the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, announced the new product this week on social media stating that it would soon be available to buy (£10 for 60ml) online.
Darran said: "Any gin distiller will tell you that the smell that greets you upon opening a still after a distillation is amazing, and we decided it was a shame to just pour this concentrated mixture of botanicals and essential oils that don't make it out of the pot down the drain.
"As a bearded man myself, I realised that the aroma was akin to something you'd find a a beard oil-type product, and that we could create something similar just by concentrating the oils and adding a couple more ingredients.
"After a bit of research on Google, we also found out that a lot of the essential oils found in the botanicals - juniper, sweet orange, cinnamon, clove - have beneficial properties for your hair and skin anyway, so it all sort of made sense. As well as being a cool product it helps us reduce waste, so it's a win-win."
https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/drink/exciting-glasgow-gin-company-release-christmas-gin-just-in-time-for-the-festive-season/