Gin - small distilleries
Discussion
I'm not a gin drinker normally, much prefer a nice whisky, but looking for a Christmas gift for someone who prefers Gin.
Over the years I've tried the usual options, Tarquerary, Gordon's, Edinburgh etc but I see ads for countless "small distilleries" eg Harris, Raasay. New ones seem to crop up every day and prices are somewhat higher than the usual options. Are they any better, do they all taste similar, do folk tend to drown them with tonic anyway? I have a few favourite whiskies and can taste differences between them but gin?
Looking for advice please.
Over the years I've tried the usual options, Tarquerary, Gordon's, Edinburgh etc but I see ads for countless "small distilleries" eg Harris, Raasay. New ones seem to crop up every day and prices are somewhat higher than the usual options. Are they any better, do they all taste similar, do folk tend to drown them with tonic anyway? I have a few favourite whiskies and can taste differences between them but gin?
Looking for advice please.
I went to a gin tasting session a few years ago. A present for me and Mrs IRC who was thw gin drinker. Very informative. As several people had booked places and not turned up there were a number of spare gins going about as well.
Interesting talk on the history band different styles. I liked an Old Tom style gin. Many more options rather than tonic as well. I do remember the teacher/presenter rated Tanqueray 10 very highly among the more mass market gins. I can't recal the other gins we sampled though.
A bit of googling suggest 10 is highly rated though perhaps not premium enough for a present.
https://theginisin.com/gin-reviews/tanqueray-ten/
Interesting talk on the history band different styles. I liked an Old Tom style gin. Many more options rather than tonic as well. I do remember the teacher/presenter rated Tanqueray 10 very highly among the more mass market gins. I can't recal the other gins we sampled though.
A bit of googling suggest 10 is highly rated though perhaps not premium enough for a present.
https://theginisin.com/gin-reviews/tanqueray-ten/
Gin is always changing with new flavours coming out. Theres always a new herb, fruit or other flavour being put in the blend by someone.
Its really easy to produce compared to other spirits.
Most whisky distilleries produce a gin as a side gig whilst waiting on the whisky maturing
I have seen everything from Brussle sprout gin to jaffa cake gin to proper Navy strength gin and everything inbetween.
Its really easy to produce compared to other spirits.
Most whisky distilleries produce a gin as a side gig whilst waiting on the whisky maturing
I have seen everything from Brussle sprout gin to jaffa cake gin to proper Navy strength gin and everything inbetween.
Did a gin making session in Cheltenham at Piston Gin Distillery - very PH as you make your own gin, sample theirs, whilst looking at some of the owner’s car collection on the lower level. And the name sounds like ‘pissed on gin’.
Surrey Silent Pool takes some beating.
Delicately floral, with a gorgeous bottle you could stick a light in.
Delicately floral, with a gorgeous bottle you could stick a light in.
Skyedriver said:
I'm not a gin drinker normally, much prefer a nice whisky, but looking for a Christmas gift for someone who prefers Gin.
For something unusual (and especially if the recipient is a car enthusiast) I suggest Morgan Gin from the Morgan Car Company shop. I sampled it on a recent factory visit and it has a 'robustness' I've not found in other gins. I was told it's infused with shavings from the ash wood used in the factory and is better drunk with ginger ale rather than tonic; I shall find out at Christmas:https://shop.morgan-motor.com/product/official-mor...
Riley Blue said:
For something unusual (and especially if the recipient is a car enthusiast) I suggest Morgan Gin from the Morgan Car Company shop. I sampled it on a recent factory visit and it has a 'robustness' I've not found in other gins. I was told it's infused with shavings from the ash wood used in the factory and is better drunk with ginger ale rather than tonic; I shall find out at Christmas:
https://shop.morgan-motor.com/product/official-mor...
My sister is 67 and drives a Fiesta (I think). No car enthusiast.https://shop.morgan-motor.com/product/official-mor...
As said above, a new flavour coms out every day. You read the adverts with the gushing reviews and after while you're no further forward.
That T10 suggestion might be an option or I'll just grab one of the local Scottish options and see how it goes. Alternatively the Gin tasting idea is an option.
Thanks for that "irc". That Silent Pool gin has a pretty bottle, that's about the limit of my gin knowledge.
Skyedriver said:
Riley Blue said:
For something unusual (and especially if the recipient is a car enthusiast) I suggest Morgan Gin from the Morgan Car Company shop. I sampled it on a recent factory visit and it has a 'robustness' I've not found in other gins. I was told it's infused with shavings from the ash wood used in the factory and is better drunk with ginger ale rather than tonic; I shall find out at Christmas:
https://shop.morgan-motor.com/product/official-mor...
My sister is 67 and drives a Fiesta (I think). No car enthusiast.https://shop.morgan-motor.com/product/official-mor...
In my down time, I'm a brand ambassador for a small craft gin company on the far western end of the Pentland Hills National Park here in Scotland.
The company itself is a husband and wife, just the two people, with no external investment. It's called Pentland Hills Gin.
The ethos (beyond a tasty beverage) was taking a sustainability approach; plastic free, reuse rather than recycle (they operate a proper return-and-refill principle that does better than the DRS that was proposed) and reduced reliance on overseas ingredients where achievable. It's all on the website.
My wife and I helped them set the business up in terms of the aforementioned sustainability. I also helped them put the water feed in to the distillery and do some of the fit out.
For 2 people that produce 500l of gin a year across 4 types, they've done very well. It's not going to overtake the Edinburgh Gin's of this world but that not the intention. Their products and business have won several awards since they launched in November 2018, most recently the Silver in the Navy Strength category and joint silver in the Hero category (for sustainability) at the Gin to My Tonic Awards 2024.
Our gins work like whiskys in that we get people to try them neat, and then see what happens when the tonic is added. Could be seen as a little poncy, but it shows there's science behind it. And no, don't drown it out, let the gin do the heavy lifting.
My mum prefers our Navy strength, and I've sold bottles to whisky drinkers and also people who fully intended to drink it neat at 58%ABV!
The company itself is a husband and wife, just the two people, with no external investment. It's called Pentland Hills Gin.
The ethos (beyond a tasty beverage) was taking a sustainability approach; plastic free, reuse rather than recycle (they operate a proper return-and-refill principle that does better than the DRS that was proposed) and reduced reliance on overseas ingredients where achievable. It's all on the website.
My wife and I helped them set the business up in terms of the aforementioned sustainability. I also helped them put the water feed in to the distillery and do some of the fit out.
For 2 people that produce 500l of gin a year across 4 types, they've done very well. It's not going to overtake the Edinburgh Gin's of this world but that not the intention. Their products and business have won several awards since they launched in November 2018, most recently the Silver in the Navy Strength category and joint silver in the Hero category (for sustainability) at the Gin to My Tonic Awards 2024.
Our gins work like whiskys in that we get people to try them neat, and then see what happens when the tonic is added. Could be seen as a little poncy, but it shows there's science behind it. And no, don't drown it out, let the gin do the heavy lifting.
My mum prefers our Navy strength, and I've sold bottles to whisky drinkers and also people who fully intended to drink it neat at 58%ABV!
Edited by Dr_Rick on Monday 9th December 14:33
Skyedriver said:
I'm not a gin drinker normally, much prefer a nice whisky, but looking for a Christmas gift for someone who prefers Gin.
Over the years I've tried the usual options, Tarquerary, Gordon's, Edinburgh etc but I see ads for countless "small distilleries" eg Harris, Raasay. New ones seem to crop up every day and prices are somewhat higher than the usual options. Are they any better, do they all taste similar, do folk tend to drown them with tonic anyway? I have a few favourite whiskies and can taste differences between them but gin?
Looking for advice please.
What sort of budget do you have in mind and are you looking for dry london/fruity/citrus tastes etc? Over the years I've tried the usual options, Tarquerary, Gordon's, Edinburgh etc but I see ads for countless "small distilleries" eg Harris, Raasay. New ones seem to crop up every day and prices are somewhat higher than the usual options. Are they any better, do they all taste similar, do folk tend to drown them with tonic anyway? I have a few favourite whiskies and can taste differences between them but gin?
Looking for advice please.
This was just up the road from where we stayed in Aviemore this year https://www.kinraradistillery.com/ We went for a tasting session, which was worth every penny of the £15, as we have quite a few samples of both gin and tonic with various infusions. It is a good marketing ploy though, as you exit through the gift shop, slightly tipsy, and end up buying far more than you would have if you were sober 
My favourite is the Oaked Spice, with ginger ale instead of tonic, although the Cairngorm Whiteout is very nice too, and £5 (iirc) from each bottle of that goes to the local mountain rescue.
My favourite is the Oaked Spice, with ginger ale instead of tonic, although the Cairngorm Whiteout is very nice too, and £5 (iirc) from each bottle of that goes to the local mountain rescue.QuartzDad said:
My wife is the gin drinker, for small distilleries she has recommended Rock Rose and Persie. The latter is a micro setup in Blairgowrie, a couple and an outbuilding.
I’m not far from Blairgowrie , never heard of that one it’s usually the Gin Bothy in Glamis round this way.Someone bought us this as an early Xmas prezzie last year and it made a nice evening.
https://www.stillsisters.co.uk/christmasexperience...
https://www.stillsisters.co.uk/christmasexperience...
Interesting read on the economics of small distilleries in spite of being a puff piece for a single brand.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisoncoleman/2023/11...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisoncoleman/2023/11...
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