A recent trip to Cornwall and Constantine, the spiritual home of Drinkfinder UK, gave me the opportunity to select some new (at least to me) gins with which to stock my cabinet. Readers by now should realise that I am a sucker for a beautifully and elegantly designed bottle and there was an air of inevitability that Withers G1 Gin should catch my eye.
It is deceptively simple in design, made of clear glass, squat and cylindrical in shape with almost flat shoulders, a medium sized neck and a glass stopper. The sense of elegant minimalism is enhanced by the bold design decision to eschew labelling and add the necessary information in white lettering directly onto the bottle. This means that the image of the heartsease plant on the rear can be seen through the front and the imagery and lettering is made more prominent if the bottle is against a dark background, as it usually would be on a shop’s shelf. It is a very clever and thoughtful design.
By the standards of the ginaissance, Withers Gin is a relatively new kid on the block, having been founded by the eponymous Susan in 2020. Under the guidance of the former Head Distiller at Burleigh’s Gin, Ed Gibson, she produced her first gin, G1, initially at Bond Street Distillery until, in 2022, she moved operations to her own distillery in Derby. 2022 was a momentous year as Susan launched her second gin, G-Force, a stronger variation of the G1 recipe.
Using a grain base spirit, eight botanicals go into the mix: juniper, pink grapefruit zest, coriander seeds, angelica, cassia bark, orris root, green cardamom, and the star of the show, heartsease. The latter, I believe, is a new botanical to me, Viola tricolor, to give it its botanical name, and is also known as wild pansy and love-in-idleness. It has a long tradition of use in herbal medicine, prized for its abilities to treat cardiovascular conditions, epilepsy, skin conditions and used as an expectorant for respiratory problems. Apparently, it was Sarah’s mother’s favourite flower adding a note of poignancy to its selection.
I was concerned that its mildly sweet, herbaceous flavouring would make a more floral type of gin, but I need not have worried. This is a bold spirit that is firmly in the London Dry stable, which cleverly and subtly interweaves the sweeter floral notes into a more traditional soft spicy base. Yes, of course you can detect the heartsease, but it bobs in and out of the palate, allowing its fellow botanicals a chance to shine, especially the juniper and the zesty citric notes. With an ABV of 40% this crystal clear spirit provides a long lightly peppered, spicy aftertaste, making for a beautifully balanced drink.
An elegant spirit in an elegant bottle, what is there not to like?
Until the next time, cheers!
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