Navigation Gin

Navigation Gin combines foragedForagingPlants gathered by hand in the wild (woods, heath, coastline) rather than grown or bought in.Glossary edible seaweeds with specially milled juniper. The coastal botanicals are gathered by hand for this 57% ABV gin from Dyfi Distillery in Corris, Wales.

Herbal · Navy Strength · Earthy

On the palate, savoury umami meets a bracing freshness. The seaweed brings a briny, mineral impression, while the milled juniper adds a resinousResinousAn aroma reminiscent of pine or fir resin. It is juniper's signature, due to compounds such as pinene.Glossary note that keeps the strong spirit lively. Herbal and earthy tones run through it, and the high strength gives the gin a full, warming texture that lingers after each sip.

The distillation combines vapour infusionVapour infusionBotanicals sit in a basket above the liquid, so only the alcohol vapour passes through them, for a lighter, fresher extraction.Glossary and pot immersion. Afterwards, the distillate rests in an old canteiro Madeira barrel from Vinhos Barbeito and is bottled without chill filtration. Three years of development preceded Navigation's release. Brothers Pete and Danny Cameron opened the distillery in March 2016; the gin is sold in a 50 cl bottle. It won gold at the World Gin Masters in 2020, and the 2021 World Gin Awards brought another gold and the title of Best Welsh Matured Gin.

For a Navigation G&T, fill a highballHighballA long drink served in a tall, straight glass with plenty of ice: a spirit topped with soda or tonic. The word also names the glass.Glossary glass with plenty of ice. Pour in 4 cl gin, 8 cl Double Dutch Indian Tonic WaterIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary and 4 cl soda water, then garnish with a green olive on a cocktail stick. The olive echoes the salty side of the seaweed, and splitting the mixer between tonic and soda makes the drink drier and less sweet, so the umami stays clear. The long pour also softens the strength of the gin without masking the juniper, which makes it a good long drink for an aperitif. A glass filled with ice keeps it cold and the soda lively.