Mermaid Gin is the flagship gin of Isle of Wight Distillery, bottled at 42% ABV and made on the island where the distillery was founded by Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett in 2014. The distillery presents itself as the Isle of Wight's first distillery, with a production philosophy shaped by coastal botanicals, ethically sourced ingredients and a strong sustainability focus. Mermaid Gin takes its name from rock samphire, known locally as mermaid's kiss, a wild coastal succulent that grows on cliffs around the island and marks the high tide line.

The recipe is built from ten botanicals: juniper, organic lemon zest, grains of paradise, rock samphire, elderflower, orris root, Boadicea hops, liquorice root, angelica root and English coriander. This list explains the character of the gin more clearly than a simple coastal description would. Juniper keeps the dry gin structure in place, lemon zest brings direct citrus freshness, coriander reinforces the citrus line, and grains of paradise add a warm peppery edge. Rock samphire gives the gin its coastal identity through a green, aromatic and lightly sea-air-like note rather than a heavy salty flavour. Elderflower adds a gentle floral lift, while orris, angelica and liquorice help bind the recipe and contribute texture.

The production approach follows the distillery's slow distillation style, with controlled distillation and selection of the hearts of each batch. The result is a contemporary gin with a clean aromatic progression. On the nose, fresh citrus comes first, supported by gentle juniper, green herbs and a soft floral accent from elderflower. The palate opens with lemon zest and coriander before moving into rock samphire, hops and peppery grains of paradise. Liquorice root adds smoothness and a restrained earthy sweetness, while angelica and orris support the dry structure rather than standing apart as separate flavours.

The finish is long, layered and dry, with citrus peel, green coastal herbs, warm spice and a rounded mouthfeel. Mermaid Gin should not be read as an aggressively saline gin. Its maritime character is subtler: a fresh, green and coastal line running through an otherwise bright, botanical gin. IWSC tasting notes for a recent award entry highlight green herbs, warm baking spices and biscuity juniper, which fits the gin's balance between herbal freshness, dry spice and classical gin structure.

In service, Mermaid Gin works best when the drink stays clean and precise. A light tonic or neutral premium tonic preserves the balance between lemon zest, rock samphire and elderflower. Cucumber can underline the green coastal side, while lemon peel keeps the citrus line bright. The bottle itself is also part of the product's identity: Mermaid Gin is packaged in recyclable glass with a plastic-free approach, natural cork stopper and compostable tamper-proof seal, in keeping with the distillery's wider B Corp and marine conservation commitments.