Two miles from Cheltenham Racecourse, the home of jump racing, Steeplechase Distillery works from Montpellier Arcade in the heart of the town. Adam Mitchell, a chemistry educator, founded it in 2020, and the racing heritage of Cheltenham runs through the range, from The Thoroughbred Navy Strength to this blush gin named after Best Mate.

Best Mate was one of the great steeplechasers: the horse never finished outside the top two in any race on the way to three Cheltenham Gold Cups. The gin that carries the name is a small-batch pink gin at 40% ABV, naturally flavoured and coloured with raspberries, redcurrants and hibiscus on a traditional dry gin base. The distillery describes it as juniper forward, with the freshness of red fruits and a hint of spice.

The fruit is used at two stages. According to the distillery, the spirit first steeps for 24 hours with juniper, coriander, raspberries, blackberries and hibiscus before being distilled with grains of paradise, which bring the peppery note. After distillation, the gin rests for three more days with raspberries and redcurrants, which give it its blush colour and a natural sweetness. No artificial colouring or flavouring is added, so the colour may fade in sunlight over time, without any effect on quality or flavour.

The distillery itself took the Distillery of the Year 2025 title in The Gin Guide Awards, and it works with 40-litre and 20-litre copper alembic stills. Pale pink and fruit-led, Best Mate works best with a light tonic that leaves the red fruits in front. A few fresh raspberries and a small cluster of redcurrants repeat the two fruits of the final steep, and generous ice holds the hibiscus acidity crisp. Stored away from direct light, the bottle keeps its colour longer.