The Sustainable Gin Guide: Planet-Positive Bottles
Gin uses juniper, which grows in England, so there are plenty of sustainable brands to choose from. Rather than buy multi-nationals, why not try artisan brands?
Sapling Spirits has now launched a climate-positive gin, to go with its vodkas. A classic twist on a London Dry, this blends juniper with citrus zest and hints of rosemary. For every bottle sold, a tree is planted.
From fruit trees in London to hazelnut trees in Suffolk (the sleepy endangered dormice will be happy, that’s their favourite food before bedding down for winter!)
Most artisan spirits are mixed with tonic water, and quinine should be avoided for some medical conditions (and pregnancy/nursing, but then hopefully you’re not drinking vodka anyway). Also check medication before consuming grapefruit or rhubarb tonic waters. Keep citrus fruit garnishes away from pets.
For glass bottles, cork is too dense to compost, so recycle at off licenses or send off in bulk to Recorked (don’t leave them lying around, they are choking hazards).
Before recycling cans, rinse then pop ring-pulls over holes. Then use your fingers/thumb to ‘pinch’ inner rims together, to avoid wildlife getting trapped.
Salcombe Gin (profits help the oceans)
Salcombe Gin is a sustainable gin bursting with flavours of fresh grapefruit, classic juniper and botanicals, inspired by the sailing community, and donating some profits to marine conservation to protect ocean habitats.
Four Seas gin helps to fund RNLI, to help our heroic lifeboat crews.
It’s light alcohol spirits include:
- First Light (juniper, citrus, ginger, orange, sage)
- Midnight Sun (a ‘pink gin’ with coastal berries, kelp and pine)
- Aegean Sky (citrus and olive for a Mediterranean taste).
Graveney London Dry Gin (from Tooting)
Graveney London Dry Gin is organic and locally owned in Tooting (power to the people!) It blends juniper with floral notes and citrus zing, perfect for a martini or negroni.
NcNean Botanical Spirit (from Scotland)
Nc’Nean Botanical Spirit (Scotland) is a gin alternative, from one of the best peat-free whisky brands. This organic spirit combines classical botanicals like juniper, coriander, angelica, liquorice, chamomile and grapefruit with local Scottish plants, for a malty fruity drink.
Gins that help other creatures (there are lots!)
- Clouded Leopard Gin uses profits to help the charity Born Free, which helps rescue animals from zoos and investigates reports of zoo welfare.
- Silverback Gin is sold in three versions (mountain strength, clementine and strawberry), along with a vodka. A portion of profits benefit gorilla conservation.
- Elephant Gin uses profits to help wild elephant charities, and also sells coffee liqueur and ready-to-drink negroni.
- Wildheart Sanctuary Gin helps raise funds on the Isle of Wight. Also on the Isle of Wight is Hedgerow Gin which raises money for the local donkey sanctuary.
- Puddingstone Distillery donates £2 from each bottle to Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, to help protect endangered bats.
- Tarsier Gin donates 10% of profits to help tarsiers, one of the world’s smallest primates that is native to the Philippines. They have been around 45 million years, yet are now endangered due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.
Ish (no-alcohol gin from Denmark)
ISH is a Danish non-alcohol gin (also as ready-made gin and tonic).
Clean G (no-alcohol gin alternative)
Clean G is a no-alcohol botanical infused spirit to replace gin, if you are not drinking or reducing alcohol. Crafted by an award-winning team of flavour experts using high quality ingredients, this is perfect to let you enjoy a tipple, but without the booze!
Clean G features:
- Juniper berries (crisp, piney and herbal)
- Lemongrass (citrus flavours from southeast Asia)
- English cucumber (refreshing and subtly sweet)
- Sweet basil (fragrant and slightly sweet)
- Grapfruit and orange (more citrus flavours)
- Rosemary and lavender (more herby flavours!)
How to serve Clean G
- Mix 50ml of Clean G with tonic water
- Pour into a glass and top with ice.
- Garnish with a wedge of lemon and mint
All drinks by Clean Co are made in Manchester with vegan ingredients. All are packed in recycled glass bottles with Flexi-Hex compostable packaging. Once opened, drink within 3 months.
Clean Co Cocktails
Mix 50ml Clean G with 150ml tonic water. Garnish with a lime slice.
Mix 60ml Clean G with 45ml dry vermouth. And 15ml olive brine. Garnish with a green olive.
Clean G Rhubarb features delicious notes of fruity rhubarb alongside the usual gin ingredients for a fruity herby finish. Garnish with a wedge of lemon or rhubarb peel (don’t eat raw rhubarb, it’s poisonous!)
Who founded Clean Co?
Clean Co was founded by Spencer Matthews, who years ago was one of the stars of the popular TV reality show Made in Chelsea, following the real-life exploits of wealthy youngsters in London.
Spencer himself was a bit of a party boy, but things were getting out of hand. He decided to go teetotal, conquered Mount Everest (to try to find the body of his brother who went missing while ascending the summit). He never found him, but he did find someone else’s relative, and his family paid for the body to be returned, so that family could have a proper send-off.
After realising he felt so much better without alcohol, he launched this company which is now the most successful independent alcohol-free brand in the world. All with good sustainable credentials.
Recently, Ben Stokes OBE (one of the world’s best-ever cricketers) has come on board as a partner and investor. Impressed with the drinks, after being open about giving up drinking, in order to cope with mental health problems. His openness in talking about his anxiety and depression, has inspired many men to open up to others.
