Gin is one of England’s most popular tipples, not least because the main ingredient (juniper) grows widely on our land. It’s therefore surprising that most pubs and restaurants only sell the big internationally-owned brands, when there are so many local artisan gins to enjoy. Here we explore just a few of the best, many organic.
If you’re pregnant, nursing or have certain medical conditions, you likely won’t be drinking gin anyway. But due to quinine, avoid tonic water for many medical conditions (including liver failure) and if on medications (blood thinners, antibiotics and anti-depressants). Also avoid grapefruit and rhubarb tonic waters, if on certain medications (check paper inserts).
Pangolin Gin is another gin, which uses profits to help animals, in this case the pangolin (the most trafficked animal on earth). It contains African botanicals of Rooibos, Honeybush and Boabab, with fresh bursts of citrus (also in Navy Strength and Pink Peppercorn varieties).
Pangolins may look like anteaters, but they are not related. Covered in scales, they (like hedgehogs) roll into a ball when threatened. They eat insects with their 2-foot long tongue. These beautiful creatures are now critically endangered, horribly abused for both food and ‘medicine’ in Africa and Asia.
More Gins to Help Endangered Species
Urban Rhino Gin uses profits to help save critically endangered white rhinos. The founder’s friend had decided to build the world’s first rhino orphanage (the first orphan arriving even before it was built). So each sip ensures you are helping babies who have lost their rhino parents to find safety from poachers. Distilled in Henley, this gin contains six botanicals (juniper. lemon peel, coriander seed, orris root, cassia bark and liquorice root).
Elephant Gin uses profits to help protect habitats for endangered elephants. Also available as orange cocoa, Sloe gin and Elephant Strength gin! Everything’s plastic-free with lighter bottles, natural cork, hemp stress and cardboard boxes.
Gorilla Spirits Co offers boozy spirits and liqueurs with a difference. Because a portion of sales are donated to charity to help endangered gorillas, one of our closest relatives. Also available for contract distilling.
The range includes Silverback mountain strength gin (made with British wheat and seven botanicals: juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, sweet orange, calamus root, acacia blossom and lemongrass. Along with a strawberry sweet gin and Old Tim Gin (from the 18th century). Graveney Gin is an organic gin made in Tooting (London) that also donates a portion of profits to a charity that protects wild gorillas.
All wild gorillas (both eastern and western gorillas) live in central Africa, they don’t see each other, as there is a big rainforest between them. They move in ‘troops’ of up to 30 gorillas, which is led by the dominant silverback male, a few females and the children. Critically endangered, due to loss of habitat, poaching and even being killed to make ashtrays, from their paws.
Mostly herbivores (they will sometimes eat insects and snails), the silverback is around 10 times stronger than a human man, but mostly are gentle, they only attack if they feel at risk, or are protecting their families. One of the most clever of all animals, they can make bamboo ladders to help babies reach trees, and even make cutlery from twigs, to eat insects.
Fatty’s Organic Gin from London
Fatty’s Organic Gin is made with dill (inspired by the founder’s home town of Dulwich which means ‘the meadow where dill grows’), serve this with ice and a slice of cucumber. The low-alcohol version is based on pink grapefruit; serve with lime and pink grapefruit juice with crushed ice, garnished with a wedge of pink grapefruit. Even the bottles are sprayed with organic inks, and screen-printed at low temperatures, then sealed with cork closures.
An Organic Botanical Spirit Drink from Scotland
Nc’Nean Organic Botanical Spirit (Scotland) is a gin-type drink from the first whisky maker to produce organic whisky free from peat. This organic spirt combines gin botanicals with local Scottish plants for a rich floral spirit with flavours of juniper, coriander, angelica, liquorice, chamomile, grapefruit, bog myrtle, thyme, sorrel and heather.
Artisan Fruit (and Pudding) Gins from Cornwall
Atlantic Distillery is an organic maker in Cornwall. It offers a range of orange, grassy and citrus gins, along with signature gins:
- Gooseberry and elderflower
- Blackcurrant and mint
- Rhubarb and Vanilla
- Earl Grey
- Smoked Green Tea
- Pudding gin!
Artisan Gins from St Ives (Cornwall)
St Ives Gin is sold in glass bottles that use 30% less glass per 100ml than standard UK spirits bottles, with compostable tamper seals made from cellulose (renewable wood pulp), plant-based varnished labels and sent in plastic-free packaging. It’s made from a blend of 13 botanicals, all gathered from the Cornish coastline. Including foraged gorse flowers, fresh basil, thyme, rosemary and bladderwrack seaweed. Made in traditional copper pot stills. Serve with a slice of grapefruit and a pinch of basil. Berry Gin is made with ripe English red berries, rosehip and kaffir lime leaves.
