Review

Tipsy Fruit Damson Gin

Tipsy Fruit Gins Ltd., Tipsage Farm, Newnham Bridge, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, England, UK.

Tipsy Fruit. 

Started a few years earlier, Tipsy Fruit Gins Ltd. was established in 2004 as a retirement project by husband and wife team Colin & Phyllis Hingston. It started out as a kitchen table enterprise using produce from their Worcestershire farm to make fruit based Gins and Vodkas. In 2004 they brought their daughter, Michele Kruger, into the business as full time Managing Director responsible for running the operation.

Today the office and administration is run from the farm but the production and bottling is carried out at nearby Kyrewood, Tenbury Wells - with four generations of the family helping out. In 2013 they produced 18,000-liters (4,750 gallons) or 36,000 bottles of Gin and Vodka infused drink.

Tipsy Fruit Gins base their products on an old family recipe dating back to 1848, with produce from the farm (and the surrounding area where possible), using whole fruits rather than purees or concentrates. The fruit is left to infuse in an undisclosed Gin, with some sugar, for a minimum period of three months, before bottling.

Damsons have been grown on the farm since the 1800’s when they were sent to Manchester and used to dye cloth. Today, Tipsage farm has been replanted with Shropshire Prune Damson trees making them virtually self-sufficient in damsons – subject to weather conditions!

This ruby red colored Gin is presented in a tall clear rectangular bottle, with sloping shoulders and long neck. It has a large dark green colored rectangular label with white text.

Flavored Gin - Damson.

20% (40 Proof).

$$$$$ - $$$$$$. Not available in the USA but is available online (subject to seasonal variations) from Hop Pocket Wine Company in the UK, for delivery within the UK only.  

Unknown but includes damsons.

The use of the word “Tipsy” certainly describes how the fruit must feel having been immersed in the spirit, but it is also a play on the shortened name of the farm “Tipsage”.

On the nose is a strong fruity plum aroma. On the palate this smooth spirit has a strong red fruit (plum) and slightly sweet flavor. On the close the dryness comes through with the fruit continuing to pervade the taste buds.

This is surprisingly sweeter then most Damson Flavored Gins, which tend to be much drier then its Sloe Gin cousin. However, do not mistake this as describing the Gin as sweet! While we like a dry damson Gin, this is perhaps one of the smoothest we have tasted and is very easy to drink – incredibly moorish! Taken neat this is a great warming tipple and mixed with sparkling mixers (soda water, tonic water, white wine etc.) makes a lovely refreshing summers day drink.

Diamond Award, Heart of England Fine Food, 2012.