Kerr s Navy Strength Gin

A Carterhead still exposes the botanicals in Kerr's Navy StrengthNavy StrengthGin bottled at 57% ABV or more. Royal Navy lore holds that at this strength, gunpowder soaked in gin would still ignite.GlossarySee Navy Strength gins Gin to spirit vapour. Its base spirit is made from malted barley grown in the Scottish Borders, within 35 miles of the Hawick distillery. The Borders Distillery bottles this Navy Strength gin at 57.1% ABV.

Spicy · Herbal · Navy Strength

Bright juniper and citrus greet the nose. On the palate, ginger-like warmth meets herbal notes, while a hint of liquorice remains on the finish. Angelica rootAngelicaThe root of a tall umbellifer, earthy and musky. After juniper and coriander it is the most common botanical: it binds the aromas and holds the finish.Glossary and coriander seeds form part of the botanical selection, joined by cassia barkCassiaThe bark of a Chinese cinnamon tree, coarser and hotter than Ceylon cinnamon. It brings a warm, slightly sweet spice.Glossary and lemon peel. Lemon peel sharpens the citrus on the nose, coriander adds a light, bright spice, cassia a cinnamon-like sweetness and angelica an earthy, herbal depth.

The gin honours William Kerr, the botanist born in Hawick in 1779. This was the first variation of the original Kerr's Gin and uses the same selection of botanicals. Its edition was limited to 2,022 bottles, each holding 70 cl; the blue bottle has a printed design that does away with a paper label.

For a gin and tonic, 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 and 12 cl Fentimans Premium Indian Tonic WaterIndian tonicThe classic tonic: sparkling water, bitter quinine and sugar. The name recalls colonial India, where quinine warded off malaria.Glossary, then garnish with an orange slice. Three parts tonic to one of gin lengthens the strong spirit without hiding the juniper, and the dry bitterness of the tonic suits the herbal side of the palate. The orange picks up the citrus notes and adds a slightly sweeter fruit, without obscuring the spice. Plenty of ice keeps the long drink cold and slows dilutionDilutionThe water added by melting ice. In the right amount it opens the aromas and softens the alcohol; too much flattens the drink.Glossary, so the herbal and citrus notes stay distinct to the last sip.