Review:

6 O'clock Gin

Bramley & Gage (Thames Distillery, Clapham, London), Thornby, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, UK.

Bramley & Gage and Six O’clock Gin.

Started in the 1980’s by Edward Bramley Kain and wife Penelope (nee Gage) at their South Devon fruit farm by making fruit liqueurs. It was only a short time later, using hedgerow sloe berries they moved in to producing Gin’s. In the 1990’s they sold the farm and set up in a building with a small bottling line. Since 2007 son Michael and daughter Felicity have run the business, increasing production from 50,000 bottles to over 200,000 per year.

In 2010 Michael Kain created this Gin in memory of his Great Grandfather Edward Kain, an engineer (also the name of his Father, and his Father’s profession) and Victorian gentleman. His personal motto of “balance, poise and precision” is used as the basis for this Gin. Once into retirement his inventing continued and he left behind a legacy of blueprints (engineering diagrams) including those for boilers and stills.

Made by hand. No added colorings or preservatives. The bottle is simple: tall, clear and cylindrical with a blue label and a large silver “6” on it.

London Dry Gin.

43% (86 Proof).

$$$ - $$$$. Not available in the USA but try Master of Malt in the UK and be prepared to pay another 75% for shipping.

7 botanicals are used including: angelica, coriander, elderflower, juniper berries, orange peel and orris.

Inspired by the restraint people use to wait until 6 p.m., after a hard days work and toil, before having the first drink of the day. Sometimes when one partakes of a drink before this time of day, the following phrase may be uttered: “Well, its 6 o’clock some where!” Great Gandfather Edward Kain had a regular habit of sitting down at 6 p.m. for an hour for (his phrase) “ginspiration”.

It is also in homage to Sir John Betjeman and his poem “A Subaltern's Love Song”, with the lines:

“And cool the verandah that welcomes us in
To the six-o'clock news and a lime-juice and gin”.

On the nose is pine (juniper) and citrus (orange) with floral notes (elderflower). On the palate this slightly sweet (liquorice?) medium bodied spirit has juniper (pine) and citrus (orange) with spice and floral notes. There is a long dry slightly peppery and spice finish with flora evidence.

This Gin has been made with the Gin & Tonic in mind. Indeed, Bramley & Gage has created their own Tonic Water – also called 6 O’clock – to pair with their Gin. With this in mind, it is not surprising to find a Gin & Tonic very refreshing with this Gin…it really is made for a G&T!

In a Martini this is nicely balanced with good refreshing flavor, very drinkable. We found complex Gin based mixed drinks can occasionally over power the Gin but discovered citrus fruit based drinks more congenial e.g. Gimlet, Tom Collins etc. Because of this we suspect it should do particularly well in the Spanish market place and it is no surprise to see their website can switch from English to Spanish.

Gold Medal, Gin Masters, 2015.

Silver Medal, International Spirits Challenge, 2013.

Silver Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2013.

Gold Medal, International Wine and Spirit Competition, 2011.

Gold Medal, Great Taste Awards, 2010.

Silver Medal, International Wine and Spirit Competition, 2010.

Music to listen to while sipping this Gin in your favorite cocktail: "6 O'Clock" by Joe Swede.

Why not relax and and drink this Gin while reading some poetry, radio broadcasts or writings by Sir John Betjeman.