NEW GINS
From blackberry-filled bottles to heritage botanicals, we take a look at some of the exciting new gins which are set to cause a stir in 2020 and beyond
Kayleigh rounds up new products and makers to look out for in 2020
New year, new you, new favourite gin – that’s how the saying goes, isn’t it? If, like us, you’re in the market to discover a new gin or two, uncovering the perfect tipple to tickle your taste buds couldn’t be easier thanks to a whole host of recently launched flavoursome, innovative and experimental gins. Here we take a look at some of the latest launches shaking up the industry.
MANCHESTER GIN BLACKBERRY INFUSED GIN
The sixth and latest release from awardwinning Manchester-based distillers Manchester Gin is bursting with British summer flavours. Infused with blackberry juice, alongside many of the key botanicals which make up Manchester Gin’s signature blend such as locally-foraged dandelion and burdock root, this new jewel-toned gin is guaranteed to quench thirsts. “Our aim was to create a bold, unmistakably blackberry gin, so we’re really proud of Blackberry Infused,” explains Manchester Gin’s master distiller and co-founder Seb Healey. “We’ve maintained a high ABV and a clear gin character that’s both juniper forward and carefully balanced with the blackberries. Its rich and warm flavour is perfect for cocktails, or a G&T that’s brimming with flavour.” www.manchestergin.co.uk
WHITLEY NEILL GOOSEBERRY GIN
Ever wished you could bottle up the scents and aromas of the British countryside? Eighth-generation gin distiller Whitley Neill has achieved exactly that with the launch of its fresh and zingy Gooseberry Gin. A flavoursome affair, the gin offers top notes of cinnamon, pear and apple which give way to a subtle, sweet spice. Fans of the distillers’ brightly coloured bottles will be pleased to hear this new flavour comes in a striking green bottle. www.whitleyneill.com
"Ever wished you could bottle up the scents and aromas of the British countryside?"
NO.3 GIN
While this award-winning classic London dry gin isn’t exactly new to the market – it has won the International Spirits Challenge ‘Best in Class’ Gin Trophy an impressive four times – its bottle has recently undergone an elegant redesign. Now housed in a clear turquoise bottle, complete with a metal key, this juniper-led floral and spicy gin is one to keep on display, or for impressing guests. www.no3gin.com
CANAÏMA GIN
From the makers of Venezuela’s Diplomatico Rum, Canaïma Gin is made with handpicked botanicals sustainably sourced from the Amazon rainforest by indigenous communities. Of the 19 botanicals which comprise this small batch gin, 10 come from the Amazon, including everything from merey (cashew) and acai berries to fruits native to the rainforest such as uva de palma and túpiro. These sit alongside more traditional botanicals including grapefruit, orange and passion fruit. As well as ensuring sustainable ingredient sourcing, the team behind this new gin is putting 10 per cent of the global profits back into conserving the Amazon. www.canaimagin.com
TWO MOONS GIN
If you’re looking for a London dry gin with a difference, Two Moons from Hong Kong could be just the tipple for you. Produced in small batches – currently only 100 bottles at a time – it incorporates a blend of botanicals from around the world. What’s more, a number of these are of Asian origin, such as Chinese apricot kernel. The distillery maintains a zero-waste policy, with any used botanicals from the distillation process turned into organic fertilisers and donated to local urban farms. www.twomoonsdistillery.com
BOLNEY ESTATE GIN
Bolney Estate has made a name for itself in English wine, but now it looks set to follow this up with its very own gin. On top of offering delicate flavours resonant of the British countryside and allotments – think
hawthorn leaves and fennel – this intriguing gin is also driven by a swathe of fragrant and spicy botanicals, including bay leaf, caraway seed and coriander seed. Not only that, it also comprises a base spirit made partly from unused press grapes. Certainly one to look out for! www.bolneywineestate.com
THE OLD CURIOSITY DISTILLERY WILD GIN
Scotland’s The Old Curiosity Distillery benefits from an idyllic location: situated within the Secret Herb Garden, a botanical nursery just outside of Edinburgh, the distillery is able to take full advantage of all manner of botanicals which grow there. Wild Gin is distilled with nine wild botanicals: sweet cicely, bog myrtle, dwarf birch, angelica root, winter savory, wood avens, sweet woodruff, yarrow and nettle. Nature enthusiasts will love the fact that the gin’s wooden packaging can be reused as a bird box, and the bottle’s swing tag is infused with plantable British wildflower seeds. As well as tasting delicious, Wild Gin also has a charitable bent – 20 per cent of proceeds will go to RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) Scotland to aid their work in protecting threatened peatland. www.theoldcuriosity.co.uk
BASHALL SPIRITS GIN
For a taste of British history look no further than Lancashire-based Bashall Spirits, which has unveiled a number of exciting new gins for 2020. Based on a number of historic recipes that have been passed down the family over the years, as well as the land and traditions of Lancashire, flavours in its range include Orange and Quince, Damson and Elderberry and Parkin Cake. www.bashallspirits.co.uk