Gin Magazine Sep/Nov 2019

As a Briton, it’s with a measure of pride that we can talk about gin as a national treasure. The term ‘London Dry’ might confuse the life out of most people when you really break it down, but it does allow us to puff-out the chest a bit in the knowledge that something so synonymous with Britain is being enjoyed all across the globe. At the moment, we have the monopoly on gin and I’m hard-pressed to think of much else that we export with any real sense of joy. However, and without painting a target on my back, I’m not usually one for too much national pride. To be honest, I’m pretty excited about the challenge British gin brands are going to be (or already are) getting from others across…

Adventurous Salcombe Gin, has released ‘Rosé Sainte Marie’, a new Mediterranean inspired gin. This dry rosé gin is being positioned alongside its flagship multi award-winning London Dry Gin ‘Start Point’. Named after the iconic ‘Sainte Marie’ lighthouse which marks the Southern entrance to the Old Port of Marseille, from where 19th century Salcombe Fruit Schooners would load citrus fruits and herbs bound for England’s ports. ‘Rosé Sainte Marie’ is inspired by the aromas, flavours and lifestyle of the South of France and is a celebration of adventure, colour, freshness and joy; capturing the vibrant spirit of the Mediterranean coast. Angus Lugsdin, co-founder of Salcombe Distilling Co, comments: “We’re extremely excited to launch this exceptional gin, our second commercial release, exactly three years after the launch of ‘Start Point’. With so many overly…

The first launch of Plymouth Gin’s special edition craft gin series that celebrates the spirit of exploration has been released, named Mr King’s 1842 Recipe. The recently reimagined recipe, which was discovered in the vaults at the Black Friars Distillery, the oldest working distillery in England, dates back to 1842 and has been specifically crafted to be brought into the modern day by Plymouth Gin’s master distiller, Sean Harrison. Mr King’s 1842 Recipe combines orris root and juniper, the latter of which was harvested in a single day and from a single hillside in the mountains of Frontignano, Italy, making this a one of a kind batch of only 2,000 cases. The area has been a part of Plymouth’s history for decades, with the original sales record for the recipe linking back there,…

That Boutique-y Gin Company has worked in collaboration with Mason’s Yorkshire Gin to create Smouldering Heights – a new addition to the Boutique-y Gin portfolio. A gin with an unusual flavour profile, Smouldering Heights delivers floral and fruity notes and a smoke derived from peated malt included in the botanical mix. When the idea for the gin first came about, the smoky flavour and fire-y label was inspired by the annual act of heather burning on the Yorkshire Moors, which happens every year to encourage new growth. However, the theme took on an ironic significance a few months ago when a fire took hold at the Masons Distillery, destroying a still and temporarily halting their production. Thankfully nobody was hurt in the blaze and production at Mason’s has resumed thanks to the…

The Craft Distilling Expo returns for its seventh year at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, London. A great destination for distillers, those looking to open a distillery, or those with a technical interest in spirits. The event provides an exciting series of talks (many on gin) from industry leaders and a chance to speak to distillery vendors: from still manufacturers to botanicals suppliers. On Tuesday 24 September, the Craft Distilling Expo is hosting a one-day ‘How to Make Gin Workshop’ at East London Liquor Company. For further details, visit www.distillingexpo.com…

One of the fun things about writing a column like this is the ability to keep an eye on current and future trends. Since the last edition, there has been one area of gin that seems to have been turbo-charged with a multitude of new products being released and a great general buzz – or should that be fizz? I speak, of course, of the pre-mixed or ready-to-drink (RTD) gin and tonic. Canned cocktails have been around since at least the 1970s, but in those days the cans were smaller, heavier, harder to open and drinkers had to be careful to avoid the sharp edges of the cans. In the following decades, the offering was sparse and the quality left many unsatisfied, leaving many drinkers asking, “How can it be so…