Sacred Gin

Organically sourced botanicals go into Sacred Gin, a London DryLondon DryA style, not a place of origin: every flavour comes from distilling natural botanicals. After distillation only water and a trace of sugar may be added, with no flavouring or colouring.GlossarySee London Dry gins bottled at 40% ABV. Its recipe names juniper from Tuscany and Bulgaria, pink grapefruit from Spain and Italy, sweet orange, lemon, lime, angelica, orris root, cinnamon and frankincense. The citrus forms a broad, layered opening, while juniper provides the dry spine; roots and spice give the gin a warmer, more grounded finish. It is a recipe with clear detail rather than an undisclosed list of botanicals.

Citrus · Organic · Spicy · Herbal

The first impression moves across grapefruit, orange and lemon, with lime adding a sharper edge. JuniperJuniperThe one compulsory botanical: gin must taste predominantly of juniper. Its "berry" is really a small conifer cone, resinous and peppery.Glossary keeps the citrus in balance, while angelica and orris root add depth beneath the brighter notes. Cinnamon brings a gentle warmth; frankincense is a less usual botanical that gives the recipe its distinctive aromatic dimension.

Sacred distils each botanical separately under vacuum, at low temperature, in Highgate, north London, and then blends the distillates. Its frankincense, Boswellia sacra, comes from Oman. The gin won double gold at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was overall winner at The Gin Masters in 2010. That style means the flavour is established through distillation, not by adding sweetness or flavourings afterwards. Bottled at 40% ABV in a 70 cl format, Sacred is made for a straightforward gin and tonic as well as classic cocktails. Its citrus range allows different garnishes, but the balance is clearest when the fruit is used sparingly and juniper remains noticeable.

For a fresh G&T, pour 5 cl over plenty of ice and top with 12 cl of Indian tonicIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary. Add a thin orange wheel and a strip of lime peel to the drink. Orange reflects the sweet citrus in the recipe; lime gives a sharper accent. A gentle stir is enough to bring the drink together while keeping its juniper, citrus and spice distinct.