Will Michael Vaughan’s gin hit us for six?
The former England captain goes out to bat in the world of botanicals. By Tomé Morrissy-Swan
Cricket has long had a boozy, beery reputation, from its raucous pint-collecting fans to boisterous player celebrations. For former England captain Michael Vaughan, however, a chilled glass of gin and tonic is now his drink of choice. In fact, so keen is he on the stuff that he’s launching his own. Vaughan’s Declaration Gin (a deliberate reference to the cricket rule) will go on sale next month at a price of £44.99 (declarationdrinks.com). The gin, inspired by his travels, contains botanicals from some of his mostloved cricketing locations.
“There are so many nice flavoured gins now, it’s become the go-to drink,” he told me last week, ahead of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. “There are so many different styles. In winter I like to drink it with a cinnamon stick. In summer, anything from basil, raspberries, blueberries, to orange and lime – generally with tonic.”
Vaughan isn’t alone in falling in love with the spirit; the boom over the past decade is well documented. Data from Kantar Worldpanel, the consumer researchers, shows gin has overtaken whisky as the nation’s favourite spirit. Four years ago, 10 per cent of people had bought a bottle within the previous 12 months; in the past year, over a quarter have. It is drunk by 55 per cent of
18- to 24-year-olds, compared with 43 per cent in 2015.
And now the man who steered England to victory in the 2005 Ashes series is turning his attention to creating his very own premium gin – perhaps inspired by the success of Sir Ian Botham’s wine. Beefy’s Australian wines, launched last year, impressed Telegraph wine writer Victoria Moore, who wrote: “They’re pretty good. They occupy a lovely spot on the peach-lemon curd/warmthfreshness spectrum.”
With prior knowledge of the drinks market thanks to his involvement with a coconut-water based drink called Coco Fuzion 100, for Vaughan the light-bulb moment to start a gin arrived, naturally, over a G&T (he enjoys Hendrick’s, Brockmans, and Monkey 47).
“We thought, ‘why don’t we have a go ourselves’,” he says. Brainstorming alongside friends and family, the name and then the concept – the global botanicals – was born.
Vaughan, who was heavily involved in the process at a Welsh distillery (“that’s the fun part”) describes countless rounds of trial and error before settling on Darjeeling tea, ginger, and liquorice among other flavours including the requisite juniper.
The three flavours were chosen for their connections with India, Australia and England – “the three countries I had the best time playing in”. They combine in a delicately citrusy spirit perfect for a gin and tonic.
But what does it taste like? Are ginlovers bowled over or in a spin? I took a bottle to The Telegraph’s Gin Experience in London last week to find out – and it seems Vaughan has hit this London Dry for six.
“It’s got a lovely warm smell, the orange is quite bold,” says Telegraph drinks writer Susy Atkins. “There’s a bit of a tannic hit of tea at the finish, but not that much. This would make a great Indian summer drink.”
Neil Ridley, co-author of The World Atlas of Gin, is equally impressed. “It’s really good, fruity with a very fragrant aroma and dry tannin notes. It’s bold enough to work well diluted with good tonics which bring out the sweeter floral notes. He could’ve been out for a duck, but he’s done a good job.”
Joel Harrison, Ridley’s writing
partner, agrees. “Using botanicals from all the nations under the banner of cricket is a great idea. I would happily serve this at my club, the Royal Household Cricket Club.”
How would they recommend drinking it? For Ridley, a classic G&T with a thin slice of lemon peel to keep the acidity down and not overpower the gin. Harrison suggests a spin on the French 75 (gin, champagne, lemon juice and sugar), replacing champagne with an English sparkling wine. “You could call it an English century.”
Entering the gin market certainly poses more threats than an Australian bowling attack, but if anyone is up for a challenge, it’s Vaughan. “It’s tough, it’s competitive, but that’s fine,” he admits. “The market is growing and growing, and I can’t see it stopping.
“Our strapline at the end of summer will be ‘declaring it England’s greatest ever summer of cricket’ – it just means we have to win the Ashes.”
RYAN REYNOLDS
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, star of the Deadpool films, launched Aviation American Gin after getting “vodka fatigue”. He told The Telegraph: “I’ve always liked gin, but a lot of gin is very strong on juniper and pine, which doesn’t sit with me that well.” He went for a more spicy, citrusy drink, with botanicals such as sweet orange peel, cardamom, coriander seeds and star anise. Mix 50ml with 10ml crème de violette, 15ml maraschino liqueur and 15ml freshly squeezed lemon juice for a zingy aviation cocktail.
£28, Asda
‘He could’ve been out for a duck, but he’s done a good job’