Eden Mill, Scotland’s first single-site distillery and brewery, crafting gin, whiskey, and beer, opted to change the packaging of its stylish pink gin in response to trade and consumer feedback. The result is a new lightweight glass bottle, which is more easily recycled than its ceramic counterpart. And by using 18% less glass than most other spirit bottles, it attracts a lower carbon footprint, helping Eden Mill to emphasize its sustainability commitment.

From an aesthetic perspective, the crystal cut dimple effect ties into the heritage of St Andrews and golf, replicating the style of bottle previously used on the Eden Mill distillery site back in the 1800s. An additional benefit of the design is that it provides much better pouring capability for the trade-in mixing and serving drinks, as well as in stock taking. The bottle is complemented by a printed shield label design on the front and a white cork stopper as a closure.

“Having listened to feedback from both trade and consumers, the new glass Love Gin design represents an important statement for Eden Mill,” said Tony Kelly, co-owner of Eden Mill. “By being 100% carbon-efficient, we aim to be the first carbon-neutral distillery by 2022, so from a sustainability perspective, moving to glass is the right strategy for the business. It also enables us to create some important production and supply chain efficiencies as a result.

“Once again Croxsons have provided an on-brand solution that not only complements our existing range, but also helps reinforce our heritage in a striking and stylish way, whilst providing some beneficial practicalities, particularly for the trade. It also helps that customers can see the beautiful pink colour of our gin in the bottle”.

Croxsons’ chief operating officer, Tim Croxson, commented: “Eden Mill’s ceramic look is well established, but the switch to glass has been important, not least in delivering increased sustainability. As a new addition, the new 70cl size bottle will be well suited to the trade for volume serves, stock takes and ease of pour, while the traditional 50cl Love Gin version will continue to delight consumers.”

Eden Mill and Croxsons are currently in collaboration on the development of a glass miniature Love Gin version, which will be used across the range in a variety of miniature packs.

Source: Croxsons

To help keep spirits high during the lockdown, Fishers Gin is offering free home delivery for all online orders – simply visit fishersgin.com and enjoy free delivery to the UK mainland to help you #StayHome. Bottles come in two sizes: 70cl (£39.95) or 20cl (£14.95), perfect for a post-working from home tipple or a virtual cocktail with friends.

Thanks to contact-free delivery, you’ll be transported to the coast as soon as you unwrap your special delivery; drink in the bottle’s intricate design, inspired by the fishing nets and brightly coloured boats of Aldeburgh village.

Robust and natural with savoury, aromatic and herbaceous notes, Fishers uses a variety of delicious edible plants such as dittany, lovage, beetroot, bog myrtle, sea purslane, rock samphire, spignel and wood avens; to create its distinct flavour, reminiscent of the coast. Served best as a signature Fishers G&T, adding your favourite tonic water, orange peel and rosemary; or if you have a fully stocked home bar, shake up a Fishers Negroni, a twist on the classic cocktail with Fishers Gin, Pampelle, Belsazar Dry Vermouth and pink grapefruit bitters, to lighten lockdown.

Source: Fishers Gin

Ready to gift in a beautiful gold-foiled gift box, the Yard of Gin features 12 of the best gins hand-selected from distilleries across Great Britain, including Edinburgh Gin, Tarquin’s Gin, Manchester Gin and Sipsmith Gin, plus many more.

A curated collection of flavoured, dry and pink gins, the Yard of Gin invites any gin lover to fully explore and enjoy the wonderful world of gin with a unique and shareable gift.

The limited edition gift is an ultimate gin tasting experience and includes an accompanying copy of The Gin Guide, an essential guide to everything gin which details the history of gin, an insight into the featured distilleries, alongside exclusive gin cocktail recipes, notes on how to taste the gins and a tasting chart to complete your gin experience.

Alongside the Yard of Gin, the Tipple Box Christmas 2019 range will include a Christmas Cocktail Box, featuring everything required to make and enjoy two delicious festive-themed drinks at home, and a new Tipple Box Christmas hamper, alongside specially curated gin and tonic and cocktail gift sets.

Tipple Box founder Sonny Charles said: “We’re delighted to launch the world’s first Yard of Gin. With a hand-selected range of gins sourced from the UK’s top distilleries, the Yard of Gin is set to become the most-wanted Christmas gift of 2019.”

Source: TippleBox

The world’s first clay bottle-aged cocktail competition organized by the premium gin brand Cross Keys Gin® has reached the next stage by announcing more than 25 UK-based bartenders that will compete for three months’ rent paid by Cross Keys Gin and a trip to the distillery where the gin is crafted.

Maris Kalnins, Global Brand Director for Cross Keys Gin at owners Amber Beverage Group, says, “With the trend for clay-ageing growing internationally we are seeing bartenders who have experimented with barrel-ageing cocktails in oak, looking to age their drinks in clay bottles. We know that the clay delivers interesting changes in taste and allows drinks to develop deeper colours, earthy tasting notes and a much richer quality to the liquid inside. The drinks remain clean and crisp as they aren’t taking as much from the clay as they would from ageing a cocktail in a barrel. It’s an exciting direction for the trade and for our Cross Keys Gin.”

Competitors represent a wide range of best UK’s bars and restaurants like The Den Soho, Aqua Shard, Twisted Lemon Brighton, 12A members club, Cottonmouth, Hedonist, Callooh Callay and many others. During the next stage of the competition, bartenders will receive an empty clay bottle and a full 70cl bottle of Cross Keys Gin. With five weeks to age their cocktail, the bottles will then be judged, and the winner will have three months’ rent paid by Cross Keys Gin and three best cocktail owners will win a trip to Latvia’s capital city, Riga, the crown jewel of the Baltics.

The tradition of ageing wine and spirits in clay stretches back centuries yet it is still very much alive today. In the Baltic States, where for over 250 years the pure, fresh taste of their drinks has been preserved using natural clay bottles, an award-winning brand Cross Keys Gin continues to see the benefits of storing and ageing in clay. Research shows that the clay bottles protect the liquid inside from sunlight, as well as extreme changes in temperature, and the porous properties of the clay allow a unique interaction between the bottle and the liquid.

Source: Cross Keys Gin

Elephant Gin gives back to what inspired the gin from the outset: elephants. Every year more than 35,000 elephants are killed because of uncontrolled ivory poaching; that’s one every 15 minutes. Elephant Gin contributes 15% of bottle proceeds to African elephant foundations in an effort to support the preservation of African wildlife and help ensure future generations will be able to explore these magnificent landscapes. 2019 sees Elephant Gin announce in excess of 500,000 Euros raised for the protection of African elephants from the sale of Elephant Gin and the brand’s special events.

For each full-sized bottle sold, 15% of profits are donated to Big Life Foundation and Space for Elephants; while with each miniature bottle, Elephant Gin contributes 15% of profits to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. All of these organisations are devoted to the conservation of the African elephant and devotees of the brand and animal lovers are able to track the progress made as funds are raised.

Tessa explains, “Elephants have always fascinated me and with horror I realised that poaching, and ultimately the prevailing poverty in Africa, is driving the African elephant to extinction. Elephants are one of the oldest species of animals, fascinating and intelligent, that have lived in ​​southern Africa for thousands of years and have survived many natural disasters and natural predators. It’s frightening that that the only species that threatens this gentle giant is humankind. That’s why from the very first bottle sold in September 2013, we have given 15% of bottle profits to organisations that are devoted to the conservation of the African elephant.”

Big Life Foundation is an anti-poaching organisation, which protects two million acres of wilderness in the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem of East Africa. Elephant Gin’s contributions go toward one outpost to fund 35 rangers’ salaries, rations & equipment (e.g. tents, rucksacks, sleeping bags) for three months at a time.

Space For Elephants is focused on restoring the old migratory routes that were lost when game reserves were fenced, and aims to give freedom to thousands of elephants to range freely across Africa. In addition, Elephant Gin has funded an education centre focused on elephants.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is known as the most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program in the world. Its elephant orphanage near Nairobi nurtures orphaned elephants that have been found in the wild – often either left behind when their mother dies due to poaching or other human intervention. Each baby elephant has the support of a dedicated team to nurse them back to strength and to rear them in such a way that they can return to the wild when grown.

With Space For Elephants Foundation, Elephant Gin have recently funded and opened an education centre focused on elephants, The Wildlife Spirit, located in the Pongolapoort Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. First proclaimed in 1894, it is the second oldest reserve in the world and the oldest in South Africa. It’s home to an impressive collection of wildlife and vegetation. In addition to the two breeding herds of African elephant, there are also hyenas, buffalos, rhinos, leopards, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and impalas. The aim of the program is to teach locals as well as tourists about the threats elephants face today, the important ecological role of elephants, and the demand for conservation.

The education centre was built and is run by members of the Zulu community; providing jobs for people who otherwise may be tempted to work or trade on the black market. This strategy is coming to fruition as people are taught how to attract tourists and offer tours around the landscape; holidaymakers keen to see the centre in person, can enjoy safari visits to the elephants and the array of wildlife, the botanical garden and its many lookouts onto Lake Jonzi, they can learn all about elephants and even make elephant dung paper; for the ultimate memorable occasion, visitors can host a wedding at the centre; there are many local lodges and camps, including the Jozini Tiger Lodge or the White Elephant Safari Lodge.

Rather than simply assigning funds to the cause so close to their hearts, Tessa and Robin are very hands-on with the foundations and their funds. As Tessa explains, “Robin and I fly to each foundation at least once a year to check in on ongoing projects, learn about difficulties, new opportunities and meet new team members. Working in South Africa and Kenya is way different to what we know from Germany or the UK; so visits are absolutely essential (and so worth it!). Every year we take the team to visit the foundations and allow them to make their own African experiences”.

With plans to open their own distillery in 2019, Elephant Gin look on the future of wildlife conservation with a positive and proactive mindset, despite some gloomy forecasts, “The way we remain positive about it is that we do see a change. Prior to Big Life in Amboseli, the question was not if an elephant would be killed, but when. Since their multiple fully-equipped teams of rangers have been placed, Big Life has made over 1,030 arrests and experience only a handful of poaching incidents per month within their area of patrol that spans almost 2,000,000 acres. In South Africa by contributing to Space For Elephant’s Relocation Fund, we have supported the move of a herd of elephants that was threatened to be killed in South Africa, to Swaziland where they are safe for the time being. China, the U.S. and Hong Kong have also declared widening their ban on ivory imports as the topic is getting more and more attention from the press and politicians. I cannot stress the importance of spreading awareness of the dangers that are threatening not only the elephants, but our entire planet. Absolutely everyone can get involved today, by firstly informing themselves about the topic (watch the film The Ivory Game), follow the foundations’ activities and spread awareness.”

Source: Elephant Gin

“This gin is different. With its palette of northern summer flavours, Cross Keys Gin pleases with a rather complex taste ready for uncomplicated enjoyment – it is great on rocks, with tonic water, or as a key player in classical cocktails. Not requiring complicated recipes, Cross Keys Gin will complement classic cocktails as no other gin,” says Cobus van Rooijen, Amber Beverage Group Marketing and Sales Director. “The unique aroma and structure of Cross Keys Gin is based on the symmetric interplay of four key ingredients: chamomile, linden blossoms, rosemary, and juniper. This authentic recipe requires great care, therefore Cross Keys Gin is locally handcrafted in small batches,” van Rooijen explained.

Cross Keys Gin stands out among others in a black natural clay bottle that enhances the aging process of gin. The chiselled pearl-like bottle design includes 3D varnish decoration on the body and a label with two colour bronze foil.

Amber Beverage Group is a leading producer, distributor, logistics provider and retailer of beverages.  It operates internationally from its head office in Luxembourg and through its production and distribution companies in Russia, Mexico, the UK, Australia and the Baltics, its historical home.

ABG produces, bottles, markets, distributes, exports or retails a comprehensive range of beverages of more than 600 own and third party brands. It has an own brand portfolio of over 130 brands, and exports its global brands as Riga Black Balsam, Moskovskaya Vodka, Rooster Rojo Tequila and Cosmopolitan Diva to over 70 active global markets.

Source: Amber Beverage Group

How did the story of Bendistillery begin?

Bendistillery was founded in 1996 by Jim Bendis, he had the thought of making gin from juniper that grows wild in Central Oregon. This idea led to creating a line of high-end, handcrafted distilled spirits, much like the craft beers and family wineries that are so common in Oregon. His first products were a gin (made from the handpicked, wild juniper berries that gave him the original idea) and vodka.

Bendistillery is a small batch distillery. What are the main spirit lines your distillery produces?

Gin and vodka have been the foundation of the distillery, but in recent years our rye whiskey and flavord vodkas have grown in popularity.

Hazelnut, Espresso, Pepper or even Sweet Ginger infused vodka sounds very interesting. Do you think consumers are looking for more innovative alternatives? 

I think the flavored vodka fad has passed – particularily with respect to the whips, fruit loop and other candy-like flavors. But we are still finding a demand for certain flavored vodkas, especially if there is a story behind them and a great cocktail to enjoy them in. Examples are our Pepper Vodka and our NW Berry Vodka. Like all of our flavored vodkas these are naturally flavored – real peppers in the Pepper Vodka and small, family farm-sourced berries in the NW Berry Vodka – both are easily enjoyed in commonly served drinks, the Bloody Mary and Berry Collins respectively.

But yes, if the spirit is innovative, honest and well-made I think the consumer will appreciate it.

What were the biggest difficulties you had to overcome?

Like with any new business, financing is always a huge hurdle and in the beginning. The consumer just didn’t understand the concept of “craft spirits,” so a lot of time was spent educating the consumer that they had a choice. Specific to the world of distilled spirits, the biggest challenge for small brands is probably the inability to sell directly to the consumer. Few people realize that we are required by law to use distributors in each state and, because of industry consolidation, there are only a few options in each market and those few distributors tend to be dominated by the biggest brands.

On the official website it says that Bendistillery is “..America‘s most award winning small batch distillery…“. What is your secret?

Truly, the secret is our water. Of course everything you do during produciton is important, but in the end water is the backbone of any beverage. This is why Central Oregon is home to 30+ breweries; several cider and kombucha houses; and 11 distilleries.

At the moment, Bendistillery products are available in the US. Are you planning to enter new markets?

We have shipped product overseas and are actively open to any and all opportunities to sell product, but the core of our marketing efforts is rooted in the West. The exceptions are our rye whiskey – it is one of the few site-distilled ryes in the country – and a couple of our seasonal spirits, such as Hatch Green Chile Vodka and our Black Butte Whiskey collaboration with Deschutes Brewery. These products are limited quantity, unique spirits that are highly sought after nationally.

Where do you see your brand in 5 years from now?

I expect to continue growing at double digit rates and to keep innovating. Our Crater Lake Rock & Rye ready-to-drink cocktail is good example of staying on forefront, but beyond that it is hard to say. Acquisition by a larger entity is definitely common in our industry so I would not be surprised if we formed a partnership in the future, but our focus is still on creating great distilled spirits rather than grooming the company for sale.

What advice would you give to people who want to start, but are afraid to get involved in the beverage business?

Stay focused on what you do well, find a niche or clear point of difference and don’t give up. The market appreciates honest, well-made products and, even for the best, growth can be slow.

For more information visit Crater Lake Spirits website.

MALFY Originale is distilled to a recipe that pays homage to the originators of gin – Italian Monks – who first distilled juniper spirits at their monasteries along the Amalfi Coast as far back as 1050. However, for MALFY Gin Originale, Carlo Vergnano, owner of Torino Distillati, and Beppe Ronco, Master Distiller, took inspiration from the famous terroir of their own Piedmont Region.

Torino Distillati sits in the foothills of the magnificent MonViso mountain (Monte Viso), the highest peak of the Piedmont Region. Inspiration peaked while climbing Monte Viso when Vergnano and Ronco were struck by the quality of the wild juniper and the crisp spring water filtered through rock from the snow-capped peak of MonViso. For both fervent alpinists, this was the moment they decided these quality ingredients would be perfect for MALFY Gin Originale – a crisp, juniper forward gin.

The Originale expression is launching on the heels of MALFY Gin Con Limone, which is infused with Italian Juniper and five other botanicals along with the famous Italian sfusato lemons from the Amalfi Coast, giving an unusually fresh and zesty aroma and palate distinguishing it from other juniper-heavy gins.

Source: MALFY

The aim was to find a way to elevate the smoothness of the London Dry, oak was the natural choice to achieve this. When finessing the final product, the goal was to increase the complexity of the gin’s flavour profile without overwhelming its natural fresh characteristics so Robin sought out the perfect combination of new and aged wood. It was key that the juniper-led gin flavour was not overpowered but that the gin had that added body and smooth finish that would really set it apart. After much experimenting, Robin found the ideal blend was achieved by using three different types of oak and a yearlong resting period.

For this limited edition, Elephant Gin chose a 100% rye pot-distilled base to make use of its premium grain structure as well as its spicy and fruity characteristics. Whilst retaining the same 14 botanicals that Elephant London Dry Gin is renowned for, Elephant Aged Gin has increased quantities of these botanicals to achieve a higher concentration of aromas, allowing these characteristic notes to remain prominent after the ageing process.

The result is a premium rye-based Elephant London Dry Gin of 52% ABV aged in oak for an elevated smoothness, additional silky spice, sweet smokiness and a pleasant hint of vanilla excellent supped on its own with ice, or even in a carefully balanced cocktail.

Source: Elephant Gin

This gin is packed into glass bottles, ranging in sizes from 100 ml to 500 ml. There are several different varieties of this gin: Elephant London Dry Gin, Elephant Sloe Gin, and Elephant Strength Gin. This time we will be reviewing the Elephant Strength Gin.

Elephant Strength Gin is also called “navy strength,” whose origin comes from the Royal English Navy who tested a gin by lighting it with gunpowder. If the gin had at least 57% alcohol by volume, then it survived the test and was proclaimed of navy strength. This gin has exactly 57% alcohol per volume.

After opening the bottle, you can sense the strong and refreshing herbal aroma with clear juniper and mountain pine notes. These aromas combined together create a beautiful blend, which overpowers the alcohol aroma itself, so you do not smell strong alcohol. Elephant Strength Gin is handcrafted in Germany, using 14 rare African herbs and fresh apples.

The color is crystal clear, without any sediments, turbidity or hues.  When tasting it, you can sense a very strange flavor dancing in your mouth. Sipping the gin, you do not feel the strength of the alcohol, but within seconds you can feel a nice warmth in your mouth, which helps to spread very specific herbal notes. The herbal combination is precisely worked out as all the botanicals come together as one. There is a pleasant aftertaste, refreshing yet not too spicy.  The delicate mountain pine notes stay with you long after sipping the drink.

This drink definitely merits all his awards and accolades. Not only is this gin delicious in cocktails, it is lovely served on the rocks. Elephant Gin is truly unique and well worth trying. It’s a wonderful gin with a good cause!

For more information visit Elephant Gin website.