Review

Coldstream Gin

Inver House Distillers Ltd. (International Beverage Holdings Ltd.). Moffat Distillery, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK.

International Beverage.

Inverhouse Distillers Ltd. was established in 1964 and grew by acquiring distilleries in Scotland. By 2001 it had 5 distilleries and the company was purchased by Pacific Spirit (U.K.) Ltd. Since 2008 it has been known as International Beverage Holdings Limited (InterBev) after merging with TCC in Thailand.

Coldstream was first produced in 1832.

The Gin is made in a copper pot still with the botanicals combined by vapor infusion.

It is presented in a light green broad rectangular bottle with a large white label showing large red colored writing (with black and gold colored writing in support). It has the Coldstream Guards Badge towards the top and center, stating their motto “Second to None”.

London Dry Gin.

37.5% (75 Proof).

$ - $$. Not available in the USA and has limited availability except in Asia, Russia and Spain. Try Lafuente or Vinusvinis both in Spain.

Botanicals include: angelica seed, cassia bark, coriander seeds, juniper berries, lemon peel, orange peel and orris root.

Coldstream is a river crossing between Scotland and England and it gives its name to the Coldstream Guards, a regiment of the British Army. It is the oldest regiment and can trace its lineage back to 1650 and the New Model Army of the English Civil War. A large part of their duties today are ceremonial and along with 4 other regiments can be found in their iconic red tunics and bearskin hats at London landmarks and official buildings such as Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, Tower of London etc.

The regiment is second in order of precedence, behind the Grenadier Guards (even though they are a younger regiment, they have served the Crown the longest). When parading with the other regiments, the Coldstream Guards are on the extreme left of the line, and the Grenadier Guards on the extreme right. This ensures that the regiment is “Nulli Secundus” (Latin for “Second to None” – the regimental motto.) This motto is to be found on the Coldstream bottles of Gin.

Unfortunately we have not tasted this yet, so are unable to provide any details. This is at a relatively low price point so it would be interesting to see how it compares with other budget Gins.

Unknown.