21 minute read
Spirits
Strong stu
Gin might still be the UK’s number one spirit, but premium rum, vodka, whisky and liqueur brands are making their voices heard, too, as our round-up over the next six pages reveals. Enthusiasts and retailers alike will be pleased to see that NPD across the category continues apace.
By Lauren Phillips
Set up by two friends following a backpacking trip around Southeast Asia, Tarsier Spirit produces two gins, a Tarsier Southeast Asian Dry Gin and an Oriental Pink Gin. The former is a citrus-forward spirit with Thai sweet basil, galangal and red & black Kampot pepper (RRP £35 70cl 45% ABV). The latter is flavoured with red dragon fruit, lychee and raspberry (RRP £35 70cl 40% ABV).
tarsierspirit.com
British Polo Gin has moved into the rum category with its new Organic Double Spiced Rum. ‘Double spicing’ involves distilling orange, cinnamon, vanilla, and ginger with organic white rum before macerating the spices in the distillate. This produces a “rich and vanilla mouthfeel
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has created a new gin made with ingredients from countries he visited during his career: English botanicals, Australian ginger, and Indian Darjeeling tea. Declaration Gin is described as “zesty” with “powerful orange and citrus on the nose” and is available to the trade via Hammonds with an RRP of £44.99 for 70cl and £34.99 for 50cl.
declarationdrinks.com
South Devon-based Hattiers Rum has been producing rums for Fortnum & Masons, Harvey Nichols and highend indies since 2017. Its collection includes a 70cl Premium Reserve – a sipping rum described as an “exceptional base to cocktails” (trade £25.90 plus VAT, RRP £42) – and a 70cl blended aged white rum (trade £22 plus VAT, RRP £36). Available via Diverse Fine Food.
hattiers.com
with citrus and subtle spice”. Available via Cotswold Fayre, RRP £6, 5cl bottle and £39.95, 70cl bottle.
britishpologin.co.uk
Bristolian company 6 O’clock Gin has expanded its RTD cocktail range with the release of two new flavours and a lighter alternative to its classic London Dry gin & tonic (7% ABV). The new flavours are an Exotic Orange Gin & Tonic (7% ABV) and a warming Damson & Ginger (5% ABV). The launch marks the brand’s 10th anniversary.
6oclockgin.com
As the hard seltzer craze picks up speed in the UK,
Long Shot
Hard Seltzers has joined the furore with its three debut flavours: Grapefruit, Strawberry & Rhubarb, and Raspberry & Blackcurrant. RRP £2.75, 250ml can (4% ABV).
longshotdrinks.com
Norfolk-based Black Shuck’s new rum collection consists of Spiced White and Honey Liqueur varieties. The honey rum liqueur (24% ABV) is the latest addition and is made by infusing Norfolk honey with white rum.
blackshuckltd.co.uk
Primo Negroni is the first cocktail in the ready-to-serve collection from Primo Aperitivo. Available in 50cl bottles, it is a blend of dry gin and vermouth (RRP £29).
primoaperitivo.com
The owners at
Harrismith Rum
have created a new rum punch mix named after their restaurant on the Caribbean island, Cutters of Barbados. Available separately or as a gift set with Harrismith Rum, trade price £23.90 per case of six (RRP £29.88).
cutters.bb / harrismithrum.bb
Massingberd-Mundy Distillery in the Lincolnshire Wolds has created its second craft gin. Marie Jeanne’s Pink Gin is a French-style gin named after a historical figure from the South Ormsby Estate.
southormsbyestate.co.uk
Mama Brown Rum Punch sits under the portfolio of Jamaican fine food brand, Marshall & Brown. The punch blends Jamaican Rum and tropical juices to create a premium readyto-drink cocktail.
marshallandbrown.co.uk
Elderflower liqueur St Maur (pronounced ‘san moor’) launched to market in June. Produced by the Earl & Countess of Yarmouth, it is made with wild elder blossoms and fruit from the pair’s kitchen garden. RRP £37.50, 70cl bottle and RRP £16.75, 20cl bottle.
drinkstmaur.com
McQueen Gin started the year by releasing its take on Rhubarb & of £27 and is the first of the McQueen range to be available in a 70cl bottle.
mcqueengin.co.uk
Highfern, based in Grantown-on-Spey, has launched a Cairngorms Edition of its Angels’ Nectar Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Released in partnership with the Cairngorms Trust, the 11-year-old single cask has been bottled at 46% and at natural colour. RRP £68.
highfern.com / angelsnectar.co.uk
Following the success of its London Dry, Scottish gin brand Ben Lomond has created two flavoured gin varieties: Raspberry & Elderflower and Blackberry & Gooseberry. Both come in 50cl sizes and have an RRP of £23.50.
benlomondgin.com
Wiltshire-based Downton Distillery produces Explorer’s Gin, a contemporary London Dry based on Sir Walter Raleigh’s expedition to the New World in 1584. It is described as a juniper-forward gin with bold citrus and spice notes from the pink and Sichuan pepper. The gin retails at £40 (44% ABV) with an on-trade cost of £26.50 and off-trade £29.50.
Ginger Gin. It has an RRP Ginger Gin. It has an RRP
downtondistillery.com
Welsh Sisters Gin produces two London Dry gins inspired by women in Welsh culture. The Captain’s Wife (who sailed to Chile in the 19th Century) is distilled with Yerbe Mate tea, pomegranate and fig. Morwyn (named after a Welsh sea goddess) features a blend of grapefruit, sage premium London Dry and a Raspberry gin. The gins are available in two sizes which retail at £18 for 35cl and £35 for 70cl.
butlerscross.com
Filey Bay STR Finish is the fourth whisky in the range from Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery. Distilled in 2016, the ‘field to bottle’ single malt has been matured in bourbon casks and
and gorse flower. Both are available in 50cl hip flaskshaped bottles (trade £25; RRP £37.50).
welshsisters.co.uk
Gooseberry is the latest flavour in The Orchard Gin Co’s selection of gin liqueurs made with old-English fruit. The new 31.2% gin is described as slightly sharper than traditional, syrupy liqueurs. Available in three sizes 100ml (trade £6; RRP £7.50), 250ml (trade £14 up to 12 bottles; £12.50 13+ bottles; RRP £18), 500ml (trade £24 up to 6 bottles, £22 7+ bottles; RRP £29.95).
orchardginco.co.uk
Cait Sith (pronounced ‘caught shee’) is a new Old Tom-style gin from Wild Thyme Spirits. Based on the Spirits. Based on the distillery’s Colonsay Gin, the small batch gin takes inspiration from the Isle of from the Isle of Colonsay where the spirits are produced. Described as sweeter than a London Dry, than a London Dry, at 40% and has hints of orange, pink grapefruit, and vanilla.
wildthymespirits.com wildthymespirits.com
Butlers Cross is a small distillery in the Chiltern Hills run by David and Catherine Massey. The pair launched the business in September last year and currently offer two gins – a
Cait Sith is bottled finished in STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred) red barriques from Rioja vineyards in Spain. It follows the Filey Bay First and Second Releases in 2019 and Filey Bay Moscatel earlier this year. RRP £60, 70cl.
spiritofyorkshire.com
Dorset and Hampshire wasabi-grower The Wasabi Company has produced a vodka made from the fiery Japanese horseradish. The small batch vodka is made with real wasabi to deliver a spirit that has a pungent heat and brassica flavours of mustard and radish. Ideal with sushi and sashimi and available in 50cl bottles with a trade price of £18 (RRP £29).
thewasabicompany.co.uk
Unputdownable.
Please adore Conker responsibly.
All enquiries trade@conkerspirit.co.uk www.conkerspirit.co.uk
LUXURIOUSLY SMOOTH DEVON
POTATO VODKA
At Devon Cove we create exceptional vodka using King Edward potatoes, lovingly grown on our family farm overlooking Hope Cove in Devon.
Our copper pot, single distilled vodka is handcrafted in an artisan distillery, made only from the finest ingredients, to ensure its smooth, luxurious taste.
www.devoncove.co.uk 07779 008842
Tom Savano is a brand of premium prebatched internationally inspired cocktails, blended and bottled in Devon by founder James Kerslake. The five-strong range includes: English Garden Lychee Martini, Caribbean Dawn Mai Tai, Single-Estate Reposado Margarita, Kentucky Winter Old Fashioned, and Devon Coastal Negroni. All come in 20cl (trade £83.38 per case of 12; RRP £12) and 50cl bottles (trade £94.25 per case of 6; RRP £27).
tomsavano.com
Sibling Distillery is run, unsurprisingly, by four siblings (two
Mead Cask gin has been produced in brothers and two sisters). The distillery is one of the few in the UK to make its own base spirit. Its latest launch is a Negroni Gin, inspired by the Italian cocktail, and made with fresh citrus peels and Negroni-inspired herbs. Available in 35cl bottles (trade £13, RRP £25) and 70cl bottles (trade £22.50, RRP £40).
siblingdistillery.com
Cheshire-based Three Wrens Gin has launched two innovative gin flavours. The first is an apple crumble gin (40% ABV). It replicates the British dessert with ingredients of toasted oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and picked up a Gold at the 2020 World Gin Awards. The second is a raspberry gin distilled with beetroot and black pepper and finished in ex-balsamic casks from Modena (41.3% ABV).
Honey Spirits, in the Peak District, has launched two new gins. Apoteca Sherry Cask gin is a variation of its signature Apoteca London Dry made with sea buckthorn and bee bread (pollen and honey). Heather
threewrensgin.com
partnership with its sister company Derbyshire Meadery. Both new gins are available in 50cl bottles with an RRP between £40 and £45.
honeyspirits.co.uk
Devon Cove Produce has launched Cove Vodka, Devon’s first potato vodka (RRP £39.50, 70cl). It’s produced using King Edward potatoes grown on founder Leanne Carr’s family farm. The business has also launched Cove Damson Liqueur, which infuses Westcountry damsons in the signature potato vodka (RRP £33, 50cl). The producer suggests serving the liqueur with Champagne for a Devon Kir Royale.
devoncove.co.uk
MORE PEOPLE GETTING INTO THE MIX
Speight Gin’s Signature Gin is the base spirit for flavoured varieties in its collection, including Bilberry, Rhubarb and its newest flavours, Pear and Huckleberry (a blend of bilberry and blueberry).
sp8gin.com
BeauFort 57 is a 57% ABV oak & hickory smoked sipping gin from BeauFort London. The company teamed up with Langley Distillery to create the gin which has an RRP of £39.95 per 50cl bottle.
beaufortspirit.com
Haven Distillery
has launched its Sly Gin collection of Classic London Dry, Lemon Verbena and Pink Grapefruit in new retro bottles. Available in 70cl (RRP £36, trade £23), 20cl (RRP £15, trade £9), and 5cl gift packs (RRP £16, trade £10).
havendistillery.co.uk
Hearts Distillery
has launched a Staffordshire Strawberry gin edition, made with strawberries from nearby Essington Fruit Farm and based on its London Dry. The bottle comes wrapped in red tissue and has an RRP of £18.
heartsdistillery.com
Swedish business Purity Distillery, best known for its vodka, has entered the UK market with an organic Old Tom gin (43% ABV), distilled with juniper, basil, and thyme. RRP £39.95.
puritydistillery.com
By Chris Mercer Since COVID-19 effectively shut down the UK’s bars, spirits lovers have been turning to mixing drinks at home to treat themselves. And the trend seems set to continue as lockdown eases.
On-trade analyst group CGA says 60% of consumers it surveyed planned to continue making cocktails beyond lockdown, also noting higher demand for equipment, such as shakers and stirrers.
Sekforde Drinks, which makes botanical mixers for specific spirits, said sales were up 50% on average across the range, with founder Talula White noting more interest in new combos and flavours.
Some distillers, retailers and bartenders have turned to DIY kits to help the nation hone its skills.
Jen Baernreuther, sales director at Speciality Drinks, has led a “bring the bar home” partnership with bars and restaurants to create make-at-home cocktail packs, sold via sister business the Whisky Exchange for between £53 and £105.
Top sellers included a Coconut Espresso Martini devised by restaurant Kanishka, and a Banana Rum Old Fashioned (pictured) by the Trailer Happiness bar.
Baernreuther tells FFD that, while it’s hard to replace the skills or atmosphere of great venues, “if you give people the confidence to make themselves a drink then it’s the beginning of a journey”.
Daymark
Rum’s Daymark 1683 Original is distilled from a base of Venezuelan molasses with samphire and sea salt. The rum is then aged in British oak casks to take on its deep golden colour. RRP £37.50, 70cl.
daymark1683.co.uk
Blackberries, apples and gin combine to create Shed 1 Distillery’s Festive Bramble Elixer. The new Christmasthemed product joins its Festive Tipple gin, and brand new Make Your Own Bathtub Gin Tin, which includes 10 botanicals.
shed1distillery.com
Nelson’s Distillery
has introduced a special edition strawberry & pink peppercorn gin, consisting of natural strawberry essence, Madagascan vanilla, kaffir lime leaves, and pink peppercorns. It joins its 57% Navy Strength, Rhubarb & Custard, and Rose & Raspberry gins.
nelsonsdistillery.co.uk
Monarch
Liqueurs’ Tamar Tipple liqueurs include Tawny Owl Coffee Rum Liqueur, Elderflower & Grapefruit Gin Liqueur and a limited-edition Tamara Blackberry & Elderflower Gin Liqueur. All come in 25cl bottles with an RRP of £13.
monarchliqueurs.co.uk monarchliqueurs.co.uk
Cross Stream Distillery, in Cross Stream Distillery, in Buckinghamshire, uses handcrafted Buckinghamshire, uses handcrafted methods to produce its 43% methods to produce its 43% London Dry Gin, which has punchy London Dry Gin, which has punchy notes of citrus, juniper, and spice notes of citrus, juniper, and spice and a long finish. RRP £38, 70cl and a long finish. RRP £38, 70cl bottle.
crossstreamdistillery.co.uk crossstreamdistillery.co.uk The Sweet Potato Spirit Company
has introduced three more lines to its range: Espresso Rum Liqueur, Gin Krishna, and Honey Moonshine Liqueur. The rum liqueur is a rum fermented with molasses and distilled with sweet potato and arabica coffee beans (RRP £24, 50cl), while Gin Krishna is an Indian spiced gin In response to the COVID-19 crisis, which has seen more consumers enjoy a tipple at home, Asterley Bros has created a range of readyto-drink cocktails in onelitre retail-ready pouches. The initial range includes a Rhubarb Negroni, Wet Martini, and Pink Negroni, with more cocktails launching soon. RRP £44.95, 10 servings per pouch.
asterleybros.com
(RRP £32, 50cl). The last addition is distilled moonshine blended with English honey (RRP £22, 50cl).
thesweetpotato spiritcompany.com
Nc’nean Distillery’s 40% organic Botanical Spirit is produced by distilling Scottish barley spirit with wild bog myrtle, heather, and thyme to create a “wild drink” inspired by the young, whisky distillery’s home on Scotland’s west coast. It is available to retailers at a trade price of £23.70, per 50cl bottle.
ncnean.com
Jin Talog’s Great Taste 3-star signature single botanical organic gin now sits alaongside two limited-edition twin botanical gins. The seasonal gins come in two flavours and are made by combining Jin Talog’s signature Juniper Gin with either lemon verbena or bay leaf – both of which are grown organically on the distillery’s farm in Carmarthenshire. Ideal when paired with an herbaceous tonic, says co-owner David Thomas.
jintalog.wales
Orkney Gin Company has created Scotland’s first Akvavit (a Scandinavian spirit distilled from grain and potatoes). Orkney Akvavit is distilled eight times with caraway, citrus and rosehips to create a smooth drink. It joins the company’s other gins – Johnsmas, Mikkelmas, and Rhubarb Old Tom – and has an RRP of £39.90 per 70cl bottle (41.5% ABV).
orkneygincompany.com
Jawbox Spirits Company Jawbox Spirits Company has launched an Export has launched an Export Strength Gin at 47% ABV. Strength Gin at 47% ABV. Packaged in a striking Packaged in a striking black bottle purposely black bottle purposely designed to stand out designed to stand out on shelf, the spirit is on shelf, the spirit is distilled with heather distilled with heather from the Black Mountain from the Black Mountain which overlooks the city which overlooks the city of Belfast. Its signature of Belfast. Its signature serve is with ginger ale serve is with ginger ale and a wedge of lime. and a wedge of lime.
jawboxgin.com jawboxgin.com
Off Piste Gin was created during lockdown in collaboration with Sibling Distillery. Inspired by the Alps, the new 40% gin combines a pure cane sugar base spirit with juniper, cardamom, lemon zest and alpine botanicals of mountain ash berries, cornflowers and Saaz hops, to create a “crisp, aromatic gin”. RRP £37.50.
offpistespirit.com
Award-winning Organic Spirits Drink Sustainable, Drink Organic.
@FattysOrganicSpirits www.FattysOrganicSpirits.com Please contact Philippa@DulwichSpirits.Com for more information
New seasonal products launching for Christmas 2020!
A NEW BOUTIQUE DISTILLERY, LOCATED IN BEAUTIFUL CHESHIRE WOODLAND, MAKING ONE-SHOT, COPPER DISTILLED SPIRITS FOR THE TRULY DISCERNING DRINKER.
Makers of the world’s first apple crumble gin (40% abv) gold medal winner at the 2020 world gin awards. Selected by the expert tasting panel at Craft Gin Club as their new ‘Discovery Gin’ March 2020 Producers of the world’s first gin rested in exbalsamic casks from Italy - Three Wrens Raspberry, Modena cask finish (41.3% abv)
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY:
Paul Jackson, Editor, The Gin Guide (89k Instagram followers)
‘What can we say apart from WOW! Totally unexpected, innovative and intriguing...‘
The gin to my tonic (73k Instagram followers)
Get in touch to add these unique spirits to your portfolio 01829720724 hello@threewrensgin.com www.threewrensgin.com
ENGLISH VERMOUTH HANDMADE WITH INTEGRITY
WWW.ASTERLEYBROS.COM
Goosnargh Gin is run by husband and wife team, Richard and Rachel Trenchard, on the edge of the Forest of Bowland. Chapter One is the distillery’s signature gin – made up of 14 botanicals including meadowsweet, yarrow, and elderflower – which won gold at the International Wine & Spirit Competition last year. Its next venture is a range of bespoke mixers due to be launching soon.
goosnarghgin.co.uk
Following the success of its Great Taste 3-star-winning Gunshot Gin, Scottish brand Gin Bothy is launching a new range of spirits called Hipflask Spirits. The distillery has created two new flavour combinations under the new brand – a Sloe Bramble Liqueur and a Golden Spiced Rum. Available in 20cl bottles with an RRP between £16 and £18.
Seafarer’s Gin is the fourth spirit
ginbothy.co.uk
launched by Cornwall-based Rosemullion Distillery. Released in March this year, this 43% ABV gin is flavoured with samphire and three types of Cornish seaweed. It is distilled in 200-bottle batches in a copper still with juniper, orange, orris, angelica root, cassia, lemon and liquorice. The RRP is £16 for 25cl and £35 for a 70cl bottle.
rosemulliondistillery.com
Yorkshire-based Sloemotion Distillery has launched a seven-strong range of drinks called Finders Spirits. The line-up includes two smooth Oak-aged spiced rums (Chocolate & Coffee and Orange & Raisin); three gins (Fruits of the Forest, Lemon & Lime and London Dry); and two vodkas including a sherbet variety. Designed with vibrant, quirky packaging, the range launched with an RRP of £25.
finders-spirits.com
The Mr Hobbs Gin range is an extension of the family pleasureboating business, Hobbs of Henley, based on the Thames. In September 2020, the company is celebrating its 150th anniversary with the launch of Mr Hobbs 150, a London Dry gin (40% ABV, 70cl) blended with botanicals such as cubeb berries and cardamom.
mrhobbsgin.com
HOW WE SELL… SPIRITS
“We like to have a relationship with the maker
Tipsy Tea is giving a fresh new look to its alcoholic tea cocktails such as Long Island Spiced Tea and MoTea-To. The new branding will be inspired by the Prohibition era of the 1920s. RRP £24, 70cl bottle.
tipsytea.co.uk
Atlantic Spirit sources its botanical ingredients like Laver and Samphire along the North Devon coastline for its six-strong range of gins. Other flavours include Hibiscus, Lemon & Thyme, Lundy (with gorse flowers), and Thai basil.
atlantic-spirit.co.uk
Edwards 1902 English Potato Vodka is the first spirit to be released from the newly opened Elsham Wold Distillery. The distillery makes its own base spirit on site allowing control from “soil to spirit”. RRP £39-42, 70cl.
edwards1902.co.uk
Mad City Botanical Rum is a new premium white rum from Foxhole Spirits, which is distilled with 25 botanicals to create a spirit with “mocha notes with citrus and tropical fruits”. RRP £29, 70cl.
foxholespirits.com
Nectvs apricot and Nectvs plum spirits from True British Spirit are made from fruit grown on the Bardsley estate in Kent, which is pressed and distilled before it is mixed with juice from the same crop. RRP £70, 50cl bottles.
Kate Forbes, co-owner, Trading Post Farm Shop
Like many indie retailers, in-store tastings were a big feature at the Trading Post Farm Shop until social distancing put them on hold.
Now, owner Kate Forbes relies on her staff to upsell her range of premium, local gins and rums to customers in store.
“It’s really important my staff have sampled each new spirit that we stock and understand its backstory so they know the taste and can describe it to our customers,” she says.
Forbes is very keen to know all her alcohol suppliers and build good relationships with them, too. Often local brands will visit the farm shop to pitch their products to her.
truebritishspirit.com
themselves, even if we buy through a wholesaler, because that makes selling things to customers easier,” she says. “If you can say ‘I know the person who makes this’, it makes it far more personal to your customers.”
How a gin or rum brand looks on the shelf and whether it has an interesting bottle design is also important for the farm shop for piquing shoppers’ interests.
A case of Twin Fin’s new spiced golden rum sold out within hours after Forbes shared a picture of the bottle on the farm shop’s social media. “The bottle looked so beautiful people were desperate to buy it,” she says.
tradingpostfarmshop.co.uk
NEW FOR 2020 THE UK’S FIRST 100% ORGANIC DOUBLE SPICED RUM
DARTMOUTH ENGLISH GIN Britain’s Favourite Maritime Spirit
HAND CRAFTED BRITISH ® POLO RUM 1
O R G A N I C D O U B L E S P I C E D
Proud Sponsors of Proud Sponsors of
The Gin and Tonic has been the Polo Players’ choice™ of refreshment for over 150 years, since the fi rst polo match involving British Offi cers in 1859; hence the creation of British Polo Gin ® . Made in honour of the fi rst ever polo in England, held at the Hurlingham Club in 1869, our fourth delicious gin offering has proudly been released to coincide with the 150th anniversary of this prestigious date. Our long awaited Strawberry & Rose gin is made from our Classic Gin with added strawberry juice and rose botanicals. There are no added sugars in this gin resulting in a spectacularly aromatic gin that critically is not overpoweringly sweet, as some flavoured gins on the market tend to be. Based on the polo player with the most control and finesse, No.4; this gin really does deliver the taste of a Great British Summer. Serve with Elderfl ower Tonic and a slice of tangy lime for the ultimate new age G&T. The red colour comes of this gin directly from the 100% natural strawberry juice that we use to create our delicious Strawberry & Rose Gin.
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
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British Polo Gin +44(0)1452 730770
Produced in the UK for British Polo Gin
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