Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Marmalade gin inspired by jam making history
A NEW marmalade-inspired gin is to be launched tomorrow, in tribute to Dundee’s jam-making history.
As well as Dundee Gin, The Vine — owned by Peter Menzies — is also promoting its new Navy Strength Tay Naval Reserve Gin, at its launch event.
The gin took four months to create and will be made in batch production runs for sale for £29, initially just in the Dundee area at Fraser’s Fruit and Veg on Perth Road and at the airport.
It has a wealth of flavoursome ingredients such as bitter and sweet orange, orris and angelica root, coriander, cloves, vanilla and ginger, as well as star anise, juniper, saffron, and, of course, Mackays’ original recipe marmalade.
Mr Menzies said he was inspired t o create t he unique gin, distilled from water from Tayside’s own Sidlaw Hills, after becoming frustrated at what he sees as a lack of recognition of Dundee’s cultural history.
He said: “I was born and bred in the city and I just feel at times that we are turning our back on our history and that we don’t make the most of it.
“All the development at the Waterfront is a wonderful thing but if we don’t promote and share our past then it won’t make a blind bit of difference.
“Jam was one of the three Js that made this city and I think we should try to gain Protected Geographical Status (PGI).”
Speaking of his pride in the gin, Mr Menzies added: “It has taken months and months to make the gin and during the process we have had tastings from a range of people, including those at t he t op of t he hotel industry.
“It has been a long process but to have the product so well refined is fantastic.”
Some of the profits made from the gin will go towards the Lord Provost and Burgess of Dundee Charity Funds.
To b o o k a p l a c e a t the tasting event phone 07715 609380.