Gin Education Seminar

History Of Gin

• Invented by Dutch in mid 17th Century

– Sold by pharmacies as medical cure

• Found by English when fighting ‘80 Years War’ in Holland

• Became popular in Britain during 18th Century & popularised by painter William Hogarth

– ‘Gin Street Lane’ (1751)

What is Gin?

• White spirit whose principle flavour is Juniper (Juniper Berry)

• Minimum strength of 37.5% ABV

• Three different types (London Dry, Distilled Gin & Gin)

Different Types of Gin?

• Compound Gin: (Supermarket Own Label) Adding flavourings or essences to neutral spirit

• Distilled Gin: (Hendrick’s) The botanicals (plants) are steeped in neutral alcohol and then a secondary distillation takes place, but colour, flavourings and sugar can be added post distillation

• London Dry Gin (Darnley’s View): The botanicals & spirit are distilled together and nothing can be added afterwards

The Story of Darnley’s View

• Year 1565: Mary Queen of Scots first spies her future husband, Lord Darnley, at Wemyss Castle

• Historic family seat in Fife of renowned vintners and spirit merchants, the Wemyss family (pronounced “Weems”)

Little known facts!

• Wemyss is the old Scots word for caves – named after Wemyss Castle on the rocky shore of Fife

• The Wemyss family logo is a swan and is used on the whisky and gin packaging

Signature, 4th Earl of Wemyss

How is Darnley’s made?

• Botanicals macerated in neutral grain spirit for 15-24 hours before distillation

• Distillation takes 4 hours in batches of 300 litres

• Alcohol level drops from around 97% abv to an average of 60% abv

• Blended with neutral grain spirit (wheat)

• Reduced to bottling strength with de-mineralised water

The Still

The pot still has an operating capacity of 300 litres and is used in batch distillation process

Master Distiller is Charles Maxwell, a 6th generation distiller

Botanicals

• Botanicals can include spices, seeds, nuts, roots, fruits, vegetables and flowers, in innumerable combinations. Each gin producer will have its ‘house style(s)’ based on a particular recipe.

• There are 6 botanicals used for Darnley’s View and 10 botanicals in Darnley’s View Spiced Gin.

Geraldine Coates

• Leading expert on gin

• Published books & author of high-traffic web site Gintime.com

• Developed botanical recipe for Original & Spiced Gin

• Also developed Berry Brothers & Rudd’s ‘No 3’

Darnley’s View Original

• Launched 2010

• Five times distilled

• 40% ABV

• Five supporting botanicals to Juniper

• Lime as ideal serve

Botanicals-Darnley’s View Original

Coriander Seeds Lemon Peel

Orris Root

Elderflower

Angelica Root

Signature Cocktails by Jason Scott

• World renowned Australian mixologist, living in Edinburgh!

• Owns Bramble Bar, Last Word Saloon and Lucky Liquor Company

• Developed bespoke range of cocktails for Darnley’s

Top 20 Bars In the World

Cocktails – Elderflower and Citrus

Darnley’s Delight • Ingredients: • 50 ml Darnley’s View • 50 ml Pineapple Juice • 12.5 ml Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth • dash Gomme • Angostura Bitters • dash pasteurised egg white • • Method: • Pour all ingredients into a shaker over ice and

shake rapidly. Double strain into glass • • Glass: • Sherry Goblet • • Garnish: • 3 drops Angostura Bitters

Cocktails – Elderflower and Citrus

Lord Darnley • Ingredients: • 50 ml Darnley’s View • dash Bottlegreen Elderflower cordial • dash Fevertree Tonic Water • dash Limoncello • dash Angostura Bitters • • Method: • In a mixing glass filled with cubed ice, add the

Elderflower, Tonic, Limoncello and Bitters coating the ice. Stir and drain off any excess liquid. Add the Gin and stir until well chilled and suitably diluted. Double strain into glass straight up.

• • Glass: • Champagne Saucer • • Garnish: • Maraschino Cherry

Cocktails – Elderflower and Citrus

Smoky Martini • Ingredients: • 50ml Darnley’s View Gin • 5ml Wemyss Peat Chimney Whisky • 5 ml Noilly Dry Vermouth • • Method: • Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass,

add ice and stir well till mixing glass is frosted. Double strain into glass

• • Glass: • Cocktail/Martini • • Garnish: • Lemon twist

Darnley’s View Spiced Gin Botanicals

• Launched 2012

• Five times distilled

• 42.7% ABV

• 9 supporting botanicals – Warming spices like

cinnamon and nutmeg

• Orange as ideal serve

Botanicals-Darnley’s View Spiced

Nutmeg

Grains of Paradise

Orris Root

Cinnamon

Angelica Root

Ginger

Cumin Cloves

Cassia

Cocktails – Spiced Gin

Atta Boy • Ingredients: • 50ml Darnley’s View Spiced Gin • 12.5ml Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth • 1-2 bar spoons grenadine (home-made) • 1 bar spoon Angostura Orange bitters • Method: • Over blocked ice, stir ingredients down

until well chilled and slightly diluted. Single strain into glass.

• Glass: • Cocktail • Garnish: • Cherry or none

Cocktails – Spiced Gin

East India Daisy • Ingredients: • 37.5ml Darnley’s View Spiced Gin • 50ml Knops IPA • 12.5ml freshly squeezed lemon juice • 12.5ml freshly squeezed orange juice • 12.5ml grenadine (home-made) • Soda • Method: • Pour all ingredients (except IPA) into a shaker

over cubed ice and shake rapidly. Single strain into glass over crushed ice. Charge with IPA.

• Glass: • Pewter Mug • Garnish: • Stem of red currants, bramble, orange wedge

Cocktails – Spiced Gin

Ginger Martini • Ginger Martini • Ingredients: • 60ml Darnley’s View Spiced Gin • 1 knob ginger • 15ml sugar syrup • Method: • Muddle ginger in the bottom of the

shaker. Add remaining ingredients and fill with cubed ice. Shake rapidly and double strain into glass.

• Glass: • Martini • Garnish: • Slither of ginger

Distribution- Darnley’s View

• Darnley’s View was launched in May 2010 and can now be found in selected bars and specialist off licences in:

– Scotland, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico

Awards and Reviews

Wine Enthusiast Magazine, April 2011 90-95 points Superb/Highly Recommended

Spirits Business Travel Retail Masters Master 2010

Issue 6 July 2010 4.5/5 stars

Blue Lifestyle Review October 2010 92/100

June 2011 “To us, Darnley’s View Gin feels like a perfect example of a modern take on the traditional London Dry style – not digressing too far off the classic juniper lead taste, but lighter and more floral to suit more modern palates. Delicious.”

Awards and Reviews

Top 50 Spirits 2011, December 2011 95 points “A beautiful small batch gin”

Spirits Business Gin Masters 2011 Gold Medal

International Wine & Spirit Competition 2011- Silver Medal 2012 – Gold Medal

Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2012 86/100 Very Good/Recommended

Spirits Business Gin Master 2013 Silver Medal

Awards and Reviews

International Spirits Challenge 2013 Bronze Medal

Spirits Business Magazine Gin Masters 2013 - Master

“Darnley’s View Spiced Gin is a great addition to the range and moreover to the gin category as a whole. A truly innovative product, without being so much so that it alienates gin’s core audience. Well done guys.” September 2012

Keep up to date!

Cheers!