Review

Squires Gin

IWS (owned by C&C Group PLC), Wellpark Brewery, Glasgow (although we understand the Gin is made by Thames Distillers, Clapham, London, England and bottled by Invergorden, Ross-shire) Scotland, UK.

IWS and C&C Group.

Squires Gin was originally established back in 1960 by the Pope Brewery in Dorchester, England, UK. It was also one of the products taken on board Gypsy Moth III by Sir Francis Chichester in 1962, on his voyage from Plymouth to New York, in an attempt to beat the 40-day singlehanded record he had previously set in 1960.

Whitbread acquired the brand and it was sold through the wholesalers Waverly TBS, until they went into receivership in 2012. In 2013 the Gin was bought by C&C Group (primarily manufacturer’s, marketers and distributers of beers and hard cider), perhaps best known for Tennets Beer and the Hard Ciders: Magners & Gaymers in the UK and Woodchuck & Hornby’s in the USA.

In June 2013 C&C Group established a trading arm for their business, International Wine Services (IWS), to manage and market wines and spirits within their portfolio exclusively to the on-trade. As part of this, Squires Gin was relaunched to the on-trade for the beginning of 2014.

The production of this Gin is undisclosed.

Updated & repackaged in 2014 the Gin is presented in a traditional old-style whisky bottle – clear, cylindrical and with a bulbous neck. It has a white label with green trim and an image of a hunting country squire with gun dog (the same as used previously) on the front in black.

London Dry Gin.

37.5% (75 Proof).

$$ - $$$. Not available except to the on-trade (bars and restaurants) within the UK.

Unknown but from tasting, it possibly contains: angelica, coriander, juniper berries, lemon peel and orris root.

Named after Squire Thomas Pope of Dorset, whose descendants - a well-known Dorchester brewing family - first produced this Gin.

On the nose are pine (juniper), lemon peppery spice (coriander & lemon peel) and floral parma violets (orris root). On the palate are juniper and parma violets (orris root) with hints of citrus (lemon) and spice (coriander). On the close the juniper continues with a dry bitter finish.

This has all the attributes of a traditional London Dry Gin but with more orris root than is usual. Unfortunately we have only sampled a small amount of this Gin and so are unable to give a full view with regard to the versatility of this spirit in mixed drinks. Our limited experience leads us to believe this is better in long drinks but one has to be careful not to overpower the Gin!

Unknown.