5 OF THE BEST WELSH GINS
William Hogarth might’ve feared it. Jay Rayner might abhor it. But the fact is, that drink once known as mother’s ruin is in the throes of a huge revival. Buzz selects some Welsh varieties that are just the tonic.
PENDERYN
On the southern tip of the Brecon Beacons, the site of Penderyn’s distillery has its own supply of fresh, natural spring water which they incorporate with botanicals to create their gin. With flavours including chocolate orange, rose petal, and rhubarb and cranberry, this award-winning gin aims to go from Wales to the world.
ABER FALLS
Though these are also more famous for whisky, this distillery bottles and produces its own premium Welsh gins in north Wales, using a copper gin still to ensure refined quality. From orange marmalade to rhubarb and ginger, Aber Falls’ flavoured gins also incorporate a base of juniper and lavender within the recipe in keeping with Druid origins.
GOWER GIN COMPANY
Out of a converted bike shed in Port Eynon on Gower, this micro-distillery is home to gins like Pinwydd and Rhosili. Founded by Sian and Andrew Brooks, this small but mighty company makes up to 300 bottles at a time. With the freshness of the sea, local herbs and berries, you can recognise their nautically themed, blue-and-white striped bottles a mile off.
JIN TALOG
A nano-distillery owned by Anthony Rees and David Thomas, who distil, bottle, label and package everything by hand. Sticking to a single botanical London dry recipe, they extract the oils from juniper using a top-secret method. Committed to eliminating waste, deliveries even arrive wrapped in sheep’s wool!
CYGNET
Boasting a balanced blend of Welsh water and the finest botanicals, Cygnet gin from Swansea is firmly tied to its historical roots. The story goes that the centuries-old recipe for this gin originated with two local men, Peter Wakely and William Lee, who thought they could cure cholera with this herbal drink. It may not have cured anyone, but it certainly tastes good.
Research by Daisy Gaunt & Lydia McGurin
