Review

Strawberry Bank
Damson Gin

Strawberry Bank liquers Ltd., Crosthwaite, Lyth Valley, Kendal, Cumbria, England, UK.

Unknown.

From 1990 to 2001 Helen and Mike Walsh owned The Mason Arms bar in nearby Cartmel Fell, until an outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease meant they had a quiet business period to contend with. During this time, having already produced their own damson beer, they experimented with flavoured spirits and made some Damson Gin as a way to supplement their income. This proved so popular they sold The Mason Arms and in May 2002 set up a production facility and shop at a purpose built food unit at Plumgarth Food Park just outside Kendal. Here they have increased their range of spirits and sell their products to local merchants and at food festivals.

The Lyth Valley in Cumbria is renowned for its Damsons and all the fruit used is hand collected from locally grown orchards from this area. Unlike most other flavoured Gins, where the fruit is infused in the Gin across a few months, Strawberry Bank have a novel approach to their production methods. They mill and press the fruit to produce pure fruit juice (with no additives, chemicals or preservatives), which is added to an undisclosed London Dry Gin and sugar to make an instant flavoured Gin.

The light tawny red Gin is presented in a clear tall and thin rectangular bottle with a long neck. It has a long rectangular white colored label with a picture of a damson.

Flavored Gin - Damson.

25% (50 Proof).

$$$$ - $$$$$. Not available in the USA and has limited availability in the UK, order online from Master of Malt (expect to add a further 40% for shipping), Love The Lakes or The Drink Shop (although international delivery prices from the UK are not readily available for these last two).

Unknown but includes damsons.

Named after the area known as Strawberry Bank, where husband and wife team Helen and Michael Walsh first started the business, at The Mason Arms in Cumbria.

On the nose is dark red fruit (damson) with a little peppery spice. On the palate this mildly sweet spirit has a tart plum (damson) flavor with peppery spice. On the close the fruity damson taste recedes to give way to dry Gin notes of juniper, herbal hints and more peppery spice.

This is slightly sweeter (but not unpleasantly so) than most Damson Gins whilst maintaining it’s tart tannin notes making for a lovely liqueur. We certainly enjoyed this neat but it makes for a great long drink with tonic water (making a summery fruit Gin & Tonic), soda water or lemonade. 

Unknown.