That’s the spirit... gin lovers ply their products for capital gains
IN WHAT might be seen as a case of taking coals to Newcastle, the owners of a small distillery in Whitby will tomorrow take their London Dry Gin to the capital.
Luke and Jess Slater won the best in class award at the national finals of the World Gin Awards last month, and are now hoping to take home the global title.
“There are craft distillers from across the world, so to see how they make their gins, the ingredients, the processes, everything, will be fascinating,” said Mr Slater, who created his London Dry product – the name identifies a gin with no sweetening agents – only 18 months ago.
He produced a limited edition spirit named after Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, for Whitby’s Goth Weekend last year, turning out exactly 199 bottles – one for each of the steps leading to the Abbey.
“It was over-subscribed within 24 hours,” Mr Slater said. “It was so popular we had to allocate sales to bars, restaurants and shops.
“We’re now looking to make a couple of permanent additions to our collection this year, and try and do something that nobody else has yet.”
A second Yorkshire producer, the six-year-old Masons distillery at Bedale, is shortlisted in the contemporary category for its Tea Edition gin, which is made using a blend of Yorkshire Tea.
The brand was created by gin enthusiasts Karl and Cathy Mason after they set up a Facebook page to share their love of consuming other people’s products.
“I thought, I love gin and I’d like to make my own,” Mr Mason told The Yorkshire Post last year. “We are doing so well because we’re more than just a different label.”
The awards will be presented at London’s Caledonian Club by Gin magazine.
To see how they make their gins will be fascinating. Luke Slater, of London Dry Gin