There’s no better way to celebrate St George’s Day than with lots of gin and, as St George is the patron saint of England, we like nothing more than to enjoy his day than with some delicious craft gins from England specifically. We have selected three of our favourite craft gins from England for you to try below.
Who is St George and why do we celebrate him?
Well, even though St. George is the patron saint of England (and Catalonia in Spain - which is why the Barcelona football team has his flag on their crest), it is said that he never actually set foot in England. Little is known about the famed saint however it is thought that he was actually born in what is now Turkey or Palestine.
It is said that George was a knight who was incredibly brave and chivalrous - we all know the myth of his fight with a dragon - and it was for those attributes that he was chosen as England’s patron saint. The people of England celebrate St George on the 23rd of April, the date he was executed.
We’ll be enjoying St George’s Day with one of the fab gins below!
Whitby Gin The Demeter Edition
From Whitby on Yorkshire’s wild yet magnificent coastline comes Whitby Gin The Demeter Edition, a truly delectable gin that was first created exclusively for Craft Gin Club members as their October 2020 Gin of the month. It has been a favourite here at the club ever since.
Botanicals:
Juniper, pepper dulse, heather tip, plum, coriander, liquorice root, orris root, rosehip, orange, hibiscus, cassia bark, lemon, elderflower, cardamom, vanilla, angelica root and pink peppercorn.
Tasting Notes:
This complex gin is led by juniper and fragrant floral notes on the nose. They are joined by vanilla and plump plum tones on the palate, along with the sumptuous coastal flavours of pepper dulse. The finish is long and has a delightfully subtle spice. Delicious!
How to drink this gin:
We recommend serving this gin with either a classic tonic water or something more floral like Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus Tonic Water. To garnish, slices of orange and a black peppercorn or two will do the trick.
Three Wrens Blood Orange & Apricot Gin
This stunning and completely unique gin could only come from Three Wrens in Cheshire - anyone who has tried Three Wrens Apple Crumble Gin will know just how incredible this distillery is at mastering incredible flavour profiles. Here, the Three Wrens team have combined apricot and blood orange with touches of ginger to make a truly special English craft gin.
Botanicals:
Juniper, apricot, blood orange, ginger, sweet grass and coriander seeds.
Tasting Notes:
This gin is fruity, citrusy and rich with juniper notes in all the right places. The orange fruit flavours come through first on the nose along with touches of pine. Vibrant, zesty ginger elevates the palate and lasts long into the elegant finish.
How to drink this gin:
If you like Breakfast Martinis then this is the gin for you, it’s great in that fabulous cocktail. When it comes to drinking this gin in a G&T, we recommend pairing it with a Mediterranean tonic water and a garnish of fresh citrus fruits of your choice.
Tarquin’s Cornish Dry Gin
Image: Tarquin’s
Few gin fans won’t already know the name Tarquin’s. The craft gins produced by this incredible Cornish distillery are now famed for their incredible flavour and craftsmanship the world over. We could have picked any of their range here but we have stuck with the classic, their original Cornish Dry Gin - possibly one of the best-loved craft gins in England (it has a pretty impressive trophy cabinet too). It’s hard to believe such a well-known gin is made in just four copper pot stills in small batches. We were in love from the first sip!
Botanicals:
Juniper, liquorice root, coriander seed, angelica root, green cardamom, orris root, cinnamon, bitter almonds, lemon & grapefruit peel, fresh orange and violets.
Tasting Notes:
Bright, smooth and juniper-led, the nose of this gin is delectably piny, with a subtle sweetness and hint of citrus, all of which continue onto the delicious palate where a gentle spice can be found. The finish has brilliant floral tones that will keep you coming back for more.
How to drink this gin:
With that wonderful mouthfeel and balance of complex flavours, this gin makes a gorgeous Martini. For a G&T, we love serving this gin with a premium tonic water, a sprig of thyme and a slice of grapefruit
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