RAISE A GLASS
I’VE heard lots about the meteoric rise of gin as the nation’s favourite spirit. This week I read that gin sales were up a massive 45% at Christmas compared to the same time in 2016 and I’m thinking … where have you all been?
Many (many) moons ago I sipped gin in my brother’s local and people thought we were mad because we asked for slices of cucumber. A barman’s quip was “do you want salad too”? Now look at all the styles you can have. Here’s this week’s Ginuary instalment and I’ve included a cucumber gin for good measure.
Irresistible London Dry Gin (RRP £17.49, the Co-op, 40%
abv): Tasting teams made up of the Co-op’s members were sent three blends to decide which one should be a new gin on the store’s shelves. A spicy blend was the favourite. It is crafted with 16 botanicals including caleb berries, coriander, orange peel, nutmeg and cumin. It’s a lovely mix, with the coriander and citrus shining through with a fleck of ginger and pepper on the palate.
Cucumber Gin (RRP £35, independents and also Majestic where it is £32.99 in a buy six deal): This was created by The English Drinks Company in 2016 and in less than three months won an International Wine and Spirit Competition silver medal and two stars in the 2017 Great Taste Awards. The aroma of freshly cut cucumber oozes from the glass and to taste it is initially light and fresh and then has a bit of a kick.
Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin (£41.45, thewhisky exchange.com, masterofmalt.
com 37.8% abv): The Four Pillars Distillery is based in the Yarra Valley in Australia and every year the distillers steep shiraz grapes from nearby vineyards in its Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin. The whole, destemmed grapes, are steeped for eight weeks and then the fruit is pressed before blending with more Rare Dry Gin. The gin is pale cerise in colour; there’s spicy juniper, vanilla, a fling with earth and herbs and a sweet cherry, spicy kick. Very tasty.
I’ll share more gins before Ginuary is done.
ALSO IN MY GLASS… It’s nice to know you can do something for someone else just by sipping a glass of wine. South African wine producer Nederburg has teamed up with a charity to establish a bicycle assembly facility in the Western Cape. It will provide cycles to local people to help them be mobile and access education, healthcare and jobs.
As part of its #DoYourPart campaign, Nederburg is donating 5p from every purchase of selected wines at Tesco until the end of this month (and there’s a chance to win a road bike). Look out for 56 Hundred Pinot Noir, 56 Hundred Pinot Grigio, and 56 Hundred Shiraz (all £5.75).
I’ve had a tasting preview of 56 Hundred Pinot
Grigio (13% abv). It is a pleasant, refreshing affair. It has light notes of pears and flowers and can be a great party pourer or will help you unwind without worrying too much about price.
Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.