Review

Cremorne 1859
Colonel Fox's Gin

Stuart Elkins and Richard Herbert of Cask Liquid Marketing (UK) and Timbermill Distillery, Thames Distillers Ltd., Clapham, London, England, UK.

Cask Liquid Marketing. 

In 2011 Stuart Elkins and Richard Herbert (both of whom had previously worked for Inspirit Brands, UK) set up Cask Liquid Marketing. The main focus of the business is the import and marketing of liquor however, they also wished to produce their own label. In 2012, with the help of Charles Maxwell at Thames Distillers, they launched Cremorne 1859 and their first Gin Colonel Fox’s.

Thames Distillers is run by Charles Maxwell who is the 8th generation of the family (founders of the Finsbury Distillery) who have been producing Gin since 1700 – making them the oldest unbroken lineage in Gin distillation.

The Gin is produced in small batches of 1000 bottles.

It is presented in a tall light green cylindrical (traditional whisky style) bottle. On the large label is an illustration of a Fox in Victorian red British Army officers uniform by artist Charlotte Cory.

London Dry Gin.

40% (80 Proof).

$$$ - $$$$. Not available in the USA. Try Master of Malt in the UK but be prepared to add another 60% for shipping.

The 6 Botanicals used include: angelica, cassia, coriander, juniper berries, liquorice and orange peel.

The name was inspired by an illustration by Charlotte Cory. While looking for a painting Stuart Elkins came across a piece titled “Colonel Fox”.

Charlotte Cory’s creative imagination devised an elaborate story to go with the piece: The war hero Lieutenant Colonel Fox had fought with Wellington at Waterloo, escorted Napoleon to his exile on Elba, organized heroic campaigns in Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa, rescued Livingstone from the clutches of a crocodile on the Zambezi and broke many a maiden's heart in the ballrooms of Paris, Calcutta and London - Colonel Fox picked up recipes for his celebrated gin during his travels and retired to run the Pleasure Gardens at Cremorne where his gin cocktails attracted attention across the globe. Charles Darwin’s “Origin of the Species” had been released in 1859 (proclaiming we had come from animals) and seemed a suitable date to use given the image of a fox dressed like a human army officer – hence Cremorne 1859.

On the nose is light juniper, citrus (orange) and spice (coriander) notes. On the palate this gently sweet (liquorice), oily smooth spirit is juniper led with citrus (orange), liquorice, spice (almost ginger-like) and herbal notes. The close has dry juniper, citrus and anise with faint herbal notes in its long finish. The juniper is perfectly balanced with the other botanicals.

The sweetness makes this an easy Gin to sip and besides this tastes like a traditional London Dry. However, it was devised for a Gin and Tonic and it does not disappoint with dry juniper and refreshing citrus (orange). In a Martini the smooth softness if felt but this develops to more of a bite towards the finish. The sweetness also makes it a good match for a Martinez or a Sweet Martini.

This is not a Gin that screams at you but neither does it go down with a whimper. It has no obscure ingredients but do not mistake this for lacking character, it is straightforward with a nice pleasant and soothing style – ideally employed in an aperitif before dinner. Overall it makes an ideal base for any Gin mixed drink.

Unknown.