Gin fit for a king …
Highgrove London Dry Gin is a bright spirit distilled by a local artisan supplier with ingredients from the King’s own Oxfordshire home: these being rare heritage grain for the base, coupled with lemon verbena, rosemary and thyme.
Long before ‘organic’ became fashionable, the then Prince Charles was frequently ribbed for his nature-friendly notions, and was even called, from what I remember, a ‘drippy hippy,’ with ‘no idea of what real life is like’ – ‘head in the clouds’ and so on. However, he pushed ahead and adopted organic practices on his 353-acre Highgrove Estate as early as 1990, standing firm in the face of criticism and occasional mockery. “I had a lot of flak – but I knew what I was doing,” the prince said. “It was ‘potty this’ and ‘loony that.’ I love the countryside and being in touch with things. I happily talk to the plants, the trees, and listen to them. I think it’s absolutely crucial.”
So, of course, Highgrove Gin is completely organic and produced by a certified grain-to-glass distillery – the ingredients, naturally, are certified by the Soil Association, whose symbol is a recognised and trusted mark of organic reassurance internationally, and as a certification body it delivers integrity to some of the highest organic standards.
This very moreish gin is described perfectly on the Highgrove Gardens website, which we at GINblogger agree with fully: “This spirit represents and embodies the Highgrove gardens. It is traditional, elegant, refined, but with complex herbal notes of a traditional English garden. Like Highgrove, it’s classic, with an element of the wild.” In fact, it reminded me somewhat of Engine Gin, the warming rosemary along with the opposing zestiness of the lemon verbena providing a subtleness that shouldn’t work – but somehow does.
“I happily talk to the plants, the trees, and listen to them.”
Enjoy this 40% very refreshing tipple with tonic and a slice of cucumber over ice, which is the recommendation – though we supped ours with a wedge of lime, faintly amused at the thought that King Charles III might well have had an intimate tête-à-tête with the botanicals in our gin – and also wondering if his grandmother would have liked it …
Postage directly from Highgrove is £6.95 – while the gin itself will set you back £44.95 – or you can purchase it from Fortnum & Mason.
