Review

Cowmire Hall
Damson Gin

Cowmire Hall, Winster Valley, Lake Windermere, Kendal, Cumbria, England, UK.

Cowmire Hall.

Cowmire Hall and farm in the Westmorland area is owned and run by husband and wife team, Oliver and Vicky Barratt. The Hall is a 16th century fortified house and pele tower (also spelt “peel”). These fortified tower houses were set up along the English Scottish borders and other parts of Northern England providing the facility for a linked series of signal fires to warn troops of danger.

In the 1930’s the Westmorland area was renowned for their Damsons and were used extensively by large grocery stores for producing Jam. This slowly declined but since the 1990’s this once thriving Damson growing area is beginning to boom once more. Vicky Barratt has been a part of this since she started making her Damson Gin in 1998, at first with just a little over 400 bottles and this has risen to over 6,000 per year today. Their son Simon has now joined the venture and is producing hard cider and mulled cider, using apples from the farm and surrounding areas.

The farm also has a simple apartment “The Bothy” available to rent (suitable for two people), with a boat to use on the Lake, perfect for an idyllic weekend or week in the Lake District.

Damsons are collected from the farm and from other farms further afield in Winster valley and neighboring Lyth Valley. These are steeped in London Dry Gin with added cane sugar, before the resulting infusion is bottled. It is presented in a tall clear cylindrical bottle to show it’s red color and has a large off-white label with black writing and a sketch of the Hall.

Flavored Gin - Damson.

26% (52 Proof).

$$$$ - $$$$$. Not available in the USA and only from limited outlets in the UK. Can buy direct from Cowmire Hall but only in boxes of 12 or single bottles from Windermore Wine Stores but neither (we believe) ship to the USA.

Unknown but uses Damsons.

Named after the place it is made and the key botanical flavoring used.

On the nose is a rich red fruit plum aroma. On the palate this full-bodied semi sweet spirit has strong red fruit flavor, which is clearly plum. It is in the close the warmness of the spice can be found, along with the dryness of the juniper and the tartness of the fruit on the finish.

While we really enjoy and like a Sloe Gin, Damson Gin has greater depth of character and this one is no exception. It is not as sweet and much drier making this, in our opinion, preferable to Sloe Gin. Cowmire is great as a winter warm taken neat and a good refreshing summer drink when mixed with Tonic, Soda water or lemonade. Recommended by us providing you can find a bottle or two!

Unknown.