EXPERTISE knows no bounds when it comes to Dumfries House and its educational connections.

This was taken to another level when Matthew Pauley hosted a masterclass on his specialist subject and its production — gin.

Mr Pauley, 33, is a master distiller and has created brands, including Bombay Sapphire and Oxley, as he has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience of the gin industry.

This has extended to him staging a series of events, called Distiller’s Nose tutorials, which brought him to Dumfries House, attracting gin aficionados from across Ayrshire.

Guests were introduced to a range of gins by Mr Pauley, an assistant professor who teaches at Heriot-Watt University’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling.

He then invited questions from those in attendance, passing on guidance so that drinkers could enjoy a more informed and fulfilling sampling of the spirit.

“Many people conducting tastings and masterclasses are ‘public-facing’ and don’t come from a manufacturing background, and many are paid to sell a certain product.

“Distiller’s Nose is my own brand and gives people an ideal opportunity to experience a broad spectrum of gin.

“Instead of getting the opinion of someone who is maybe paid to tout a product, guests were given guidance and an objective opinion from someone who has studied and made gin,” he said.

Events assistant at Dumfries House, Tania Bechelli, welcomed Mr Pauley to what was the first gin tasting to take place at the venue.

She said: “ Matthew’s experience and personality made for an interesting and enjoyable evening.”