Christmas puddings, taken apart and distilled, give Boatyard Winter Solstice its flavour. Orlaith, head distiller at the Boatyard Distillery on the banks of Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, used the deconstructed puddings to release the natural notes of candied orange, raisin, clove, nutmeg, ginger and star anise. French Sauternes dessert wine is then added for a touch of natural sweetness, and the limited edition is bottled at 41% ABV in 70 cl.

Limited Edition · Spicy · Fruity

The recipe sits on the distillery's juniper-led base, so the result remains a gin rather than a liqueur. Winter Solstice was named Country Winner for Flavoured Gin at the World Gin Awards in 2021, and it returns in limited batches for the colder months. Lough Erne, a chain of lakes in the west of Northern Ireland, gives the distillery its setting near Enniskillen. Boatyard is also known for its Double Gin, and the seasonal release keeps the same emphasis on juniper.

Candied orange opens the nose, rich and slightly bitter, followed by raisin and the dry warmth of clove and nutmeg. Ginger adds a sharper line and star anise a measured liquorice note, while the Sauternes rounds the edges without making the finish syrupy. Taste a small measure neat first, then over ice, to see how the sweetness shifts as the gin opens. Clove and nutmeg linger longest, with the honeyed note of the wine underneath.

For a longer drink, an Indian tonic keeps the juniper clear; a narrow orange twist and a single star anise pod are enough as a garnish. There is no need for extra sugar or fruit juice, since the wine already brings sweetness. It also makes a festive Negroni or a warming Hot Toddy-style serve for winter evenings by the fire.