KENTMAS
DISTILLED IN KENT
ALTHOUGH VASTLY OUTNUMBERED BY WINERIES AND BREWERIES , KENT IS PROUD HOME TO A SMALL BUT MIGHTY COLLECTION OF MAGNIFICENT DISTILLERIES . EACH OF THESE HAVE CREATED A PLETHORA OF DIVINE SPIRITS , PERFECT FOR SERVING UP WITH A SPARKLE THIS CHRISTMAS .
But why so few ? You might ask . As The Garden of England , surely the art of distilling would have been of great practice here for the centuries it has existed ? The answer is no . Despite some small scale ‘ moonshining ’ and a snifter of 17th century Maidstone gin , distilling , surprisingly , was never a traditional industry for Kent . Odd when you look at the current success of our fabulous distilleries and even more surprising when you consider the variety and abundance of the sheer amount of fresh produce we grow . From cobnuts and samphire to soft fruits , grapes and berries , a plethora of Kentish produce is now used to infuse and accompany a whole range of quality Kentish gins , vodkas , whiskies , rums , brandy and liqueurs .
Kent has seen this contemporary industry flourish , and in turn , both the county and the distilling industry itself has helped the other thrive . From grain to glass , our master distillers are continuing to make the most of local produce by working with Kent ’ s farmers , utilising surplus grain and fruits , and blending them with top-secret recipes to produce an array of unique spirits with an authentic taste of Kent in every glass .
After all , early distilling techniques were most likely used for the creation of ‘ perfumes and aromatics ’ rather than the distillations of alcohol . The earliest record of alcohol being distilled occurred in Italy in the 13th century , and as the practice of distilling spirits became more commonplace in medieval Europe , the United Kingdom didn ’ t seem to catch on . Predominantly used for medicinal purposes by monks , distilled alcohol was produced in monasteries , and although Kent had plenty of these , history shows that distilling never developed in an ‘ industrial ’ way here . Between 1536 and 1541 , King Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and dispersed monks into the general population causing distilled alcohol and whisky production to be taken up in the home and on farms , so perhaps our lucky Kentish ancestors were too preoccupied with hops , fruit and vines to take up the art .
Today however tells a different story and Kent is home to some distilleries to be proud of . Anno Gin in Marden produces what is currently the world ' s strongest gin . At a whopping 95 % ABV , the gin is sold with a measuring beaker and strict instructions for safe measurements . In 2020 , the carbon-neutral micro-distillery Greensand Ridge in Shipbourne was voted as the winner of the Spirit of Gin Award in The Gin Guide Awards for their contribution to sustainability and for their pioneering environmental efforts . Another pioneering distillery comes in the form of Pleasant Land Distillery in Aldington : the UK ' s first sustainable contract distillery using renewable power and circular water systems to produce sustainable spirits .
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