Terlingham Vineyard Dry Gin, 40% ABV

I have discovered a new favourite gin and it’s from Kent! Disclaimer, I might be slightly biased as this limited edition gin of 1,300 bottles is made using the last of Terlingham Vineyard’s 2020 Bacchus wine and that’s one of my favourite grapes but it’s just so good!

Botanicals include rhubarb and nettles, with honey added to the distillation which, combined with the sweet and floral notes of the Bacchus, make this a delicious and slightly sweet gin which is perfect neat, mixed into cocktails or use their recommended pour of tonic water with a sprig of mint and a garnish of lime – immediately making me mix it into a refreshing Gin Mojito.

I love the recycled glass bottles whose green-blue tinge and tiny bubbles in the glass are reminiscent of old Coca Cola bottles, whilst the label is made from 40% recycled paper, in line with the sustainable farming beliefs of the family-run vineyard in Hawkinge, Kent. The gin was produced with nearby Pleasant Land Distillery and they partnered with the nearby Locavore Growing Project to source their botanicals.

Nose: juniper, lemon, lime, chocolate limes, green apple, tangerines, honeysuckle, Bacchus wine, Reichensteiner wine, and peanut brittle

Palate: You can drink this neat, the wine is dominant but works beautifully with the notes of juniper, lemon, angelica and black pepper, plus chocolate lime crunch bars, green apple, honey, honeysuckle, elderflower, gooseberry and raspberry milkshake

Suggested mixers: Classic tonic water, elderflower tonic water or try the beautifully labelled Artisan Drinks Co. Violet Blossom Tonic, my preferred serve

If you don’t already know Artisan Drinks Co., they’re worth exploring, including for their artistic labels, and the Violet Blossom Tonic is perfect with this floral gin. 

Gin Mojito
A perfect long drink for the summer, add ice if desired, or without in colder months for a pre-lunch or post-work cocktail. Or something different for a weekend brunch, it’s a beautiful combination, making the best of the lime notes in the gin

4-6 medium-sized mint leaves, plus a top sprig for garnish
30ml/1 lime, juiced
30ml sugar syrup/gomme
60ml Terlingham Vineyard Dry Gin
60-120ml soda water, to taste
Lime wheel, to garnish

Muddle the mint, lime juice and sugar syrup, then add the gin, top with soda water, to taste, and garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wheel.

To buy Terlingham Dry Gin (£38.50), go to the Terlingham Vineyard website – and treat yourself to bottles of their Blanc de Blancs 2017 and Bacchus 2022, at the same time. Free delivery for orders over £75 – https://terlinghamvineyard.co.uk/wines/

The vineyard also run wine tastings, including their Christmas wine tastings on the 9th and 15th December which include mince pies, a cheeseboard, tea/coffee and cake, as well as a selection of their top wines of the year for £40 https://terlinghamvineyard.co.uk/winetastingevents/

I was sent a free bottle of the Terlingham Vineyard Dry Gin to mix it into a cocktail with their Blanc de Blancs 2017 for the New Year’s episode of my Cocktail Hour radio show but loved it so much, I also wrote this blog post

Coming next: Mixing the Terlingham Vineyard Blanc de Blancs 2017 with their Dry Gin – and other must-try cocktails