Conker Spirit
BOURNEMOUTH BLENDED BOTANICALS
The herbaceous , zesty notes make this a gin you can sip neat
Conker Spirit
Dorset Dry Gin 2014 www . conkerspirit . co . uk
Chartered surveying ’ s loss became Dorset ’ s gain from the moment Rupert Holloway chucked in office life for a career as the county ’ s first gin distiller . In a short time , the distinctively bottled gin produced in Bournemouth has already won a Taste of the West Gold Award . We asked Rupert all about it …
In conjunction with
SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE
What ’ s your story ?
Basically , I left my job on the premise that no one was making gin in the county and I thought it was strange that you could buy local beers , but not local gin . There was a monopoly on big distilleries based on centuries-old legislation . When I started , not only was there not many brands on the market , but information was very scarce . I wanted to produce it in town , not from some industrial estate . For me , gin is a very urban drink .
What local ingredients do you use ?
We use 10 select botanicals . Dry Macedonian juniper heart , elderberries , samphire , New Forest gorse , coriander seed , angelica root , orris root , cassia bark . Gorse foraged from the cliff tops of Bournemouth and the New Forest . And then Dorset-themed botanicals , such as marsh samphire and elderberry . They all give a fresh , herbaceous feel to the gin . Quite complex .
What makes you better than the established brands ?
It was imperative for me that Conker would be a classic gin rather than a flavoured gin , so it ’ s juniper led . It ’ s made in the same way as a London Dry , fully distilled . However , there are these lighter and brighter flavours from the Dorset botanicals . It means it ’ s dry , but it has a broad , herbaceous flavour . It ’ s still a classic but with Dorset notes .
What ’ s the best way to enjoy it ?
People are always surprised that you really can sip Conker neat . It ’ s perhaps not in people ’ s psyche . They shy away from it , but they ’ re always pleasantly surprised . It ’ s made in quite a laborious way without recycling any nasties . We don ’ t cut any corners . The result is a very pure , smooth alcohol with a botanical balance and you really can sip it as it comes . Most people when they drink spirits neat will sip it over ice , but you ’ d want it a bit below room temperature . Keep it in the fridge or add some ice , or use it in a Martini . You wouldn ’ t want to drink one of the big brands over ice . We recommend a G & T with just a strip of lime or grapefruit peel . Let the gin to the talking .
Mulled Gin
Ingredients
200ml Conker Gin 100ml Liberty Fields Apple Aperitif 1 litre cloudy apple juice Juice of a lemon ( to taste ) Sliced apple Mulling spices : 1 star anise 1 cinnamon stick 6 cloves ( you can use a shop bought mulled wine / cider bag if you prefer )
Method
Mix , warm through for 30 minutes ( do not boil ) – Serve !
Conker Spirit uses New Forest spring water to distil its gin
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www . menu-dorset . co . uk