If you’re a fan of Hendrick’s Gin you’ll be familiar with their limited-edition releases from their Cabinet of Curiosities, the first of which – Midsummer Solstice – was launched in 2017. Today, as we prepare to bid farewell to Lunar Gin, it’s time to welcome their latest creation: Hendrick’s Flora Adora!
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Anyone who knows me, or reads my blog, knows that I don’t just love gin; I love the stories behind gin too. Where, why and how it’s made. What first inspired its makers. I suppose you could call it the origin story. Today’s tale is a little different; for this time the gin has been created to enable the true story to take place.
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I’ve long been a fan of The Gower Gin Company – having reviewed their original Gŵyr & Pinwydd Gins in 2018 and placed their Bara Brith Gin in my Top Ten of 2019 – so I was excited and delighted in equal measure when I heard they were releasing a Navy Strength Gin.
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I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Rachel and Andy from Sky Wave Gin a couple of times. They were guests on my table at the World Gin Awards two years running and when, in that second year, they won Best English Contemporary Gin their delight was written all over their faces. Better yet, that award was swiftly upgraded to World’s Best Contemporary Gin 2020! Since then they’ve gone on to claim Gold at the Women’s Wine and Spirits Awards 2020, Double Gold at the China Wine and Spirits Awards 2020 and a Double Masters medal at The Spirits Business The Gin Masters Awards 2020.
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Much like their Jekka Edition, 6 O’Clock Gin’s latest release is both a collaboration with, and tribute to, another local figure; in this case Romy Gill MBE. A British/Indian chef and food/travel writer, Romy was a fan of 6 O’Clock Gin from the first time she served the local spirit in her restaurant, Romy’s Kitchen, also located in Thornbury. In a departure from the rest of the 6 O’Clock range, however, Romy’s Edition signifies a step toward the ever growing, and increasingly popular, flavoured gin category.
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The Hayman family is, impressively, the longest serving gin-distilling family in England. And yet, despite that – and much to my embarrassment – I knew little about them before they relocated to London in 2018. Worse still, and despite them being incredibly generous to me, I have never written a full article about them. Now, as Christopher Hayman celebrates an incredible 50 years in the gin industry, it seems like the perfect time to rectify that and sing their much-deserved praises.
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Inspired by the Picts – a tribe believed to be some of the first settlers in the Scottish Highlands Greenwood Distillers call home – as depicted by Theodore de Bry, a 16th century engraver and publisher. Produced by two master distillers – one British and one French. Influenced by the art of perfumery and combining old and new production techniques. With liquid (currently) produced in London and Cognac but blended and bottled in Scotland. The story behind Theodore Pictish Gin is every bit as complex as the spirit itself.
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“Bold” is the operative word where Turncoat Gin is concerned. Terry Langton, their founder and head distiller, refuses to cut corners in pursuit of each new recipe (he blames his years working in beer!), and each finished product is always striking in its originality. I was blown away by their Cascade Gin when I first met Terry at Catford Gin Festival in 2017 and when I saw him again at the same festival (albeit in a rather grander venue) last year, Terry returned with not one, not two, but three new gins; the citrusy Our Man in Sicily; the delicate and floral Dragon Tears (featuring the top buds of the jasmine tea plant); and my personal favourite, the spicy Bold St. Chai.
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For a true gin-lover, Sipsmith require no introduction, and it won’t be long before their new Orange & Cacao Gin needs none either; it’s that good! After 10 years in the business, and with plenty of competition in the craft spirit category, Sipsmith are still undoubtedly leading from the front. I’ll be amazed if anything pushes this latest member of the family out of my Top Ten this year!
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It’s hard to believe that Twelve Keys is not yet a year old. When they launched at Junipalooza in June 2018, founder Matthew Clifford, and his wife Alex, presented a polished product that was undoubtedly one of the stand-out spirits at the festival. Since then it has cropped up time and again in gin bloggers’ best gins of the year, including my own, and with very good reason.
Gin A Ding Ding 