On the Gower peninsula, which in 1956 became the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Britain, sunflower fields inspired this special edition from The Gower Gin Company. Blodau'r Haul, Welsh for the flowers of the sun, was created for Craft Gin Club members by Laura, one of the Gower team, and it is bottled at 43% ABV.

Eleven botanicals make up the recipe. Juniper, coriander, orris root and angelica form a familiar dry frame, and the sunflower itself enters twice, as petals and as sunflower honey. Apricot, cranberries and raisins bring fruit of three different kinds, white peppercorn adds a clean heat and lemon zest keeps the top bright. The petals give a light floral tone, while the honey works more on texture than on sweetness, so the same plant shapes both the scent and the mouthfeel.

On the nose, sweet apricot arrives with rich juniper. The palate is smooth, and fragrant honey joins the fruit with a gentle floral lift; cranberry gives a sharper red edge, raisin a darker and rounder note. Raisins give the fruit a dried, slightly winey depth that fresh apricot alone could not provide. A long, warming spice closes the finish, where white pepper and the roots keep the fruit from drifting towards cordial. The balance comes from that contrast: soft honey and apricot at the centre, peppercorn and juniper at the edges.

The producer recommends it in cocktails as well as in a G&T with a premium Indian tonic, garnished with lemon zest or with apricot and blueberries. Quinine bitterness suits the honeyed texture, and the apricot garnish repeats the fruit that leads the nose. A few blueberries add colour and a little acidity without covering the sunflower notes, and large ice cubes keep the honey from turning heavy as the drink sits.