Review

Sacred Orris Gin

Sacred Spirits Company Ltd., Highgate, London (found about 100 yards from the top of Highgate Hill, the highest point in London), England, UK.

Sacred Spirits.

Running up to 2008, with the financial and economic down turn at that time, former Derivatives trader turned city headhunter Ian Hart found himself at a loose at the end. He tried his hand at a hand full of ideas before looking to improve wine from poor vintages using cold distillation techniques with a vacuum still. Whilst this method of wine improvement was successful he realized it wouldn’t unfortunately be viable as a commercial project. So, armed with this new equipment to “play with”, and being a keen Gin drinker, he turned to making this spirit. After much trial and error, not to mention ample amounts of creative ingenuity and knowledge gained from his Cambridge degree in Natural Sciences, in 2009 he started his own micro distillery.

Joined by his life partner and co-founder Hilary Whitney, this is not your usual distillery. Operated from their residential home there are no traditional copper pot stills, instead it looks like a small chemistry lab in a family room looking over the backyard. With the garage and children’s playhouse providing storage facilities, an informal tasting group helping them agree upon their 23rd recipe (loosely based on one from 1660), their original Sacred Gin was launched in May 2009.

This botanical flavored Gin using Orris we believe was launched around 2011.

The botanicals are distilled separately, undergoing 3 different macerations (one with alcohol and a further two with water) to get the very last bit of flavor out of each, before being distilled. The process uses triple distilled English wheat grain spirit (bought in from the Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers) where the botanical macerations are distilled in glassware under reduced temperature and pressure in a vacuum using either a 2-liter of a 6-liter Rotavapor. Each resultant distillate is blended and hydrated with purified water to produce the final Gin. We have simplified the process but Ian Hart has added many aspects to it including vapor extraction at three different boiling points, cooling using 2 different methods to capture every drop and methods to prevent oxygen contamination. Sacred were certainly the first to use vacuum distillation in London (if not England) and we suspect are the first to use this particular and unique set-up for distillation. This Gin is made from a blend of 95% Italian orris root distillate and 5% from juniper and angelica distillates.

The Gin is presented in a tall clear cylindrical bottle with rounded shoulders and a medium length neck. The label has evolved through several changes and the most recent was implemented in November 2011 by brand design consultancy Elmwood. In general the labels are colored purple with Gold foil and the lettering “Sacred” and “Orris” written on it, plus an image of a crown. The new design is dominated with individually styled iron gates based on the famous Highgate Cemetery gates. Key aspects of the design include: Hearts lining the top of the crown referring to co-founder Ian surname; Serpents abound as these are said to guard the Frankincense tree (one of the botanicals); Ink pen nibs form the hinges of the gates as a nod to the many literary greats buried at Highgate Cemetery and the journalistic career of co-founder Hilary; the subtle images of birds are discreetly placed representing the Nightingales found throughout the Highgate woodland; and we also like the use of the laboratory style glassware images scattered around too.

Flavored Gin - Orris.

43.8% (88 Proof).

$$$$$ - $$$$$$. Not available in the USA but try online direct from Sacred Spirits or The Drink Shop. Both of these are UK based so be prepared for additional shipping costs.

Uses 3 organically sourced botanicals including: angelica root, juniper berries and orris.

Named after the Boswellia sacra tree (also known as Hougary Frankincense), one of the 12 botanicals used in the original Sacred Gin, and the key flavoring botanical for this Gin.

On the nose is a light floral violet aroma. On the palate this slightly sweet spirit has a spicy strong parma violet (orris) taste. On the close the parma violet taste continues with warm spicy notes on the finish.

This is an unexpected and unusual, Gin although it has strange feeling of being nicely balanced despite only using 3 botanicals. It is clearly for lovers of floral Gins and certainly carves a niche for people who appreciate a high level of quality. Unfortunately this is unlikely to appeal to the masses but should be given a chance, even if just for the novelty of such a strong floral violet flavoured spirit. It makes a bold and pleasing statement in a Gin & Tonic (where it is slightly subdued) and a Martini. We found a citrus garnish works best in both of these mixed drinks and even found it a good home in a Tom Collins. Of course, it should be tried and savored in an Aviation, if this is among your favorite drinks.

Overall another excellent, if somewhat different, Gin from Sacred Spirits. It is perhaps difficult to use effectively but it is a pleasant experience and worthwhile spending some time in finding its place for your palate.

Unknown.