Victorian ‘Pomp’ in a sylvan setting
Like the 2019 film ‘Downton Abbey – A New Era’, our Highclere Gin review is a sequel to Gin Lovers and other Portuguese spirits we’ve written about in recent months, reflecting on the surprising selection of juniper juices to be found in a region renowned for port wine.
In fact, just a few hours after boarding our Viking cruise ship in Porto after two sun drenched days in Lisbon, we were enjoying our first ever taste of this 43.5% ABV on the recommendation of the extremely helpful and knowledgeable bar staff. As on our previous trip up the Rhine, the Viking Osfrid was well stocked with reliable, high-class brands such as Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray, but the temptation of something new was too difficult to resist.
Served long with lots of ice in the Iberian fashion – but with the gin almost matching the mixer by volume – this was a treat for the taste buds as well as the eye while we took in the beauty of what is a World Heritage site, and began our six-day journey along the stunning Douro River valley. As well as grapes, the sun-kissed slopes grow a mixture of citrus and other crops, though the legend on the back of the unusually heavy Highclere bottle does not reveal the country of origin for its orange peel and lime flower or other botanicals.
These include lavender, liquorice, cassia and coriander seed: chosen on the basis of having been grown for generations in the castle’s own herb gardens. And in what we believe is another first amongst our long list of reviews, estate grown oats are also in the mix to help contribute a smooth finish.
Overall, the blend of herbs and spices makes for a classic London dry with extra floral interest – somewhat like images of the castle itself – Victorian pomp in a sylvan setting.
There is the invitation from the family to enjoy their beautifully crafted distillation in the traditional manner with tonic water, or as the basis for one’s favourite cocktail, but back here in a dismally wet Devon, we’ve been supping ours with a slice of lime as an early evening appetiser.
Highclere Castle gin can be purchased widely for around £40.
