Review

Cambridge
Autumn/Winter Gin

The Cambridge Distillery, Histon, Cambridge, England, UK.

"Cambridge Panorama" by Morgan.OB - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cambridge_Panorama.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Cambridge_Panorama.jpg

The Cambridge Distillery. 

The Cambridge Distillery was established in Spring 2011, by husband and wife team, Lucy & Will Lowe. Will has over 15 years prior experience in the drinks industry, initially as a bartender and most recently as a teacher for WSET (The Wine & Spirits Education Trust). Based on a hobby, Will started experimenting and before he knew it had started making individual Gins for friends and family, creating the seed to start up and open this business in 2012.

Today their laboratory like distillery is based in a room in their home and is considered to be the smallest distillery in the UK. Besides distilling tailor-made Gins for institutions or small businesses (e.g. restaurants, bars etc.) and for private individuals (like you), they also produce their own range of Gins. The botanical inspiration for these Gins is taken from the surrounding countryside while out walking “Darcy”, their dog. Meanwhile Lucy, with a background in Marketing, helps promote the business.

During these dog walks they would see variances in plants as flowers and fruits would come and go according to the seasons. They decided to collect these botanicals and distil them and before they knew it, they had “effectively distilled the season”. This was their second “seasonal” Gin offering, and was first launched for the beginning of 2014.

The Gin is produced using vacuum distilling equipment, where lower temperatures are used to capture the freshest flavors. Each botanical is infused (for up to several months) before being distilled individually to create a distillate. These individual distillates are blended to create the final Gin. Made once a year, this is a 50-liter (70 bottle) batch from foraged and homegrown botanicals over a 6-month period from 22nd June to 31st December.

The Gin is presented in a clear rectangular bottle with squared flat shoulders. There is a large rectangular label and, like the wax cap, in a light green/blue color (the same or similar sporting color used by the University).

Distilled Gin.

44% (88 Proof).

$$$$$$$$$$$$ - $$$$$$$$$$$$$. Very limited availability outside of the UK. Only available from the famous London department store – Selfridges, who fortunately provide worldwide shipping. 

The botanicals used, and the number, may vary from year to year.

2013 included: elderberry, fennel, ginger, juniper berries, liquorice root, nettle, orange and rosemary.

2014 included: elderberry, juniper berries and rose hip.

The Gin (and the distillery) takes its name from the nearest city to the distillery, Cambridge. The beautiful city is so called as the River Cam runs through it and is perhaps best known as the home of one of the world’s most distinguished universities. Cambridge University has educated members of the British Royal family, numerous Prime Ministers of the UK and an overwhelming number of Nobel Prize winning Laureates.

"Cambridge5" by Drianhoward at en.wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cambridge5.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Cambridge5.jpg

Unfortunately we haven’t tasted this Gin yet. Given the small number of bottles produced, we won’t ever be able to taste any from 2013 or 2014. Let’s hope we’ll be able to secure some from future batches to sample. Designed to be drunk during colder months, it is recommended taken neat with ice (apparently Will Lowe refers to this as his “armchair Gin”):

2013 – According to Cambridge Distillery this is a rich, crisp and full-bodied Gin with sweet berry and light spice flavors.

2014 – According to Cambridge Distillery this is a soft, rich and full-bodied Gin with fresh berry flavors and a spicy finish.

Unknown.