Review

Chilton Damson Gin

Chilton Liqueurs, Lydbury North, Shropshire, England, UK.

Chilton Liqueurs. 

The area of Shropshire in the UK used to grow significant amounts of damsons for dying fabrics, including carpet at Kidderminister and Navy uniforms at Birmingham. However this labor-intensive industry has long since gone into decline and the damsons had been left to their own devices. Today there has been a revival in the fruit and some abandoned orchards have been cultivated once again and brought back to productivity. One particular species of damson, the Shropshire prune, has been rediscovered and is starting to be used again throughout the region.

Primarily producing fruit flavored spirits, Chilton Liqueurs was begun in 1997 by Roger Strachan and, since 2007 his niece Fiona Rogers-Coltman has taken over the running of the business.

The base used to produce this is Greenall’s London Dry Gin – with a triple distilled wheat grain neutral spirit into which 8 botanicals are steeped for 24 hours before being distilled in a copper pot still for a fourth and final time. Shropshire prune damsons are then infused in this Gin for 8 months.

The resultant scarlet red colored Gin is presented in a clear squat cylindrical bottle with rounded shoulders and a bulbous neck. There is a large cream label with black colored text (clearly stating “Chilton Damson Gin”) and several images including that of a dog’s head.

Flavored Gin - Damson.

26% (52 Proof), although we believe this might have been at a lower level previously.

$$$ - $$$$. Only available within the UK, with no international shipping, try online: Chilton Liqueurs, Yorkshire Vintners, Tanners Wines or North Coast Wine Co.

Uses 9 botanicals including: almond, angelica root, cassia bark, coriander, damsons, juniper berries, liquorice, lemon peel and orris.

Named after the small village of Chilton where it was originally made and the main botanical ingredient of damsons.

Unfortunately we have not sampled this Gin yet. We understand it is rich with fruity plum and not too sweet. We certainly prefer damson Gin because it is usually drier when compared with its cousin Sloe Gin, which tends to be sweeter.

2 Gold Stars, Great Taste Awards, 2015.

1 Gold Star, Great Taste Awards, 2012.