Chapter 11

Sophie Louise

For Sophy Louise, it's the adventurous spirit of Glasgow that helps influence her own. Everything she creates is rooted in this city, the neon colours, the noise, the Gallowgate humour, all combine to give her those little sparks of inspiration… where the vibrant city streets shape her work, keep her curious, and bear witness to the moments where the city becomes truly unique and alive.

Jump to Serves
Person standing in front of 'The Barras' sign with a red archway.
Person drawing in a notebook with various art supplies on a table
INTRODUCING

How the city shapes her story…

Every corner of Glasgow has its own rhythm, and it's those bold contrasts that have shaped the way she looks at the world. The grit and humour of the streets, the laughter spilling out of pubs, the overheard conversations, the harmony between the old buildings and the new, they all ask her to pay attention.

Adventurous Spirit

"When I'm talking about Glasgow's Adventurous Spirit, I'm really talking about the energy that's been with me my whole life"

Sophy Louise- Illustrator

Hidden Gems

The hidden gems, places full of character, colour, and the people who make it feel alive. The market stalls, the murals, the smells of food… it's inclusive, expressive, and full of those classic Glasgow characters who make her smile or roll her eyes, usually at the same time. There's a vibrancy here she can't find anywhere else. And when she walks through her city, she distils what she sees and feels into her unique style, the greens of the parks, terracotta of tenements, pops of colour in the market… they feed her illustrations, and keep her style playful.

Person holding a drawing pad with green artwork and a pen, wearing a brown jacket.
Houses with snow on roofs against a foggy mountain background

Sophy takes Glasgow everywhere

When Ben Lomond Scottish Gin invited her to create illustrations for their distillery on the banks of Loch Lomond, she wanted to take Glasgow with her, to bottle the city's energy and pour it into somewhere entirely new. The shift from her East End studio to the stillness of Luss is dramatic, one pulses with Glasgow's raw energy, while Luss unfolds like a postcard, all stillness, soft light, and a loch so calm it feels like it’s holding its breath.

Yet even in the gentle scenery of Luss, Glasgow envelopes her. The vibrancy, the energy, the city lights – they all follow her here, weaving their way into every line and colour of her sketchbook. Seeing her illustrations come to life now, born from the city that raised her, reminds her exactly why a sense of place matters so much.   
Silhouette of a person walking towards a market with a colorful mural on the wall.
Colorful mural of a woman on a building with a red canopy in the foreground.
Person walking in a city street with a clock tower and buildings in the background

Glasgow’s adventurous spirit

The vitality she can't find anywhere else, the energy that refuses to sit still, the cheeky playfulness that follows her wherever she goes. It's inclusive and expressive, switching between grit and beauty without warning. It's a city that doesn't ask her to travel far to find something new, all it asks is that you pay attention, stay curious and let its streets surprise you. That spirit is what she carries with her, even when she leaves.

Adventurous Spirit

“The vibrancy of Glasgow is in every illustration I create, every colour I choose, every line I draw. There's humour in the city if you're paying attention. Which I love. That's Glasgow's adventurous spirit.”

Serve One

Neon Rain

Glasgow's adventurous spirit shines brightest after dark. Neon Rain hums with that soaked-pavement energy – the buzz of banter outside the Barrowlands, the smell of chips and rain, the glow of orange streetlights bouncing off puddles. It’s got that character the city wears so well: cheeky, vibrant, a bit sentimental, and always up for adventure.

Because Glasgow and its people don’t take themselves too seriously – and neither does this serve. It's bright, playful, and full of personality. Ben Lomond Scottish Gin meets pineapple and lime, lifted by ginger's glow and a dash of nostalgic cherry, crowned with Ben Lomond Blackberry & Gooseberry Gin – a nod to the city's colour and contrast.

Ingredients

45ml Ben Lomond Scottish Gin
20ml pineapple liqueur
10ml lime juice
3 dashes cherry bitters
Top with ginger ale.
Float of Ben Lomond Blackberry & Gooseberry Gin

Method

Fill a highball with ice. Build all ingredients in the glass, stir gently, and finish with a float of Blackberry & Gooseberry Gin. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a bright cocktail umbrella – the kind you’d find tucked among treasures at the Barras Market.

Shop this gin
Bottle of Ben Lomon gin on a desk with stationery items
Woman walking outside a building with a 'Luss' sign in the background
Two bottles of Ben Lomond Gin on a bar counter with a cocktail and a hand holding a cocktail spoon.
Serve 2

Studio Break

The kettle whistles, the pen scratches, and Glasgow hums to life. Outside, smoke drifts softly past the windows, curling into the cool afternoon air. Inside, Sophy sketches by lamplight – a wee cuppa and teacake within reach, her thoughts as vibrant and eccentric as a Saturday at the Barras.

The Studio Break captures that pause between calm and creation, when Glasgow's adventurous spirit sparks imagination. Ben Lomond Gin mirrors the city's bold, versatile design, and mezcal folds in the soft smoke of its industrial heartbeat. Tea brings the warmth and familiarity of its people, with a touch of lemon and bitters to capture their sharp wit and humour. A bold, smoky, and warming sip of the city's creative soul – the perfect companion for a slow afternoon when ideas begin to stir.

Ingredients

35ml Ben Lomond Scottish Gin
20ml Mezcal
75ml lemon iced tea
10ml fresh lemon juice
2 dashes aromatic bitters
Garnish with burnt lemon peel

Method

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake gently until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a twist of burnt lemon peel and serve alongside the iconic comfort of a Tunnock's Teacake.

Shop this gin
Person pouring a drink from a blue bottle into a glass with ice on a table.
Bottle of Ben Lomond gin with a cocktail on a wooden table, featuring an orange lamp in the background.
Person sitting on a couch holding a bottle in a cozy living room.
Mountain range with a dock in the foreground on a loch
Mountain range with a dock in the foreground on a loch

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