Tasting Notes: Ribble Valley Winter's Night Gin (Ocean Dry Subscription/December 2020)
On the first day of Christmas, Kat Rose gave to me, seasonal gin imagery.
Firstly, as is customary and only good manners, I would like to offer my fondest welcome to any new recruits who are on their first voyage aboard the Nautilus. If it weren’t for this damn inconvenient plague I would invade your personal space and give you the most affectionate hug filling you with such a feeling of bonhomie, you would entirely overlook the fact that I carry with me the odour of seaweed and salty air.
Sadly I can not be with you in person, but please know your decision to choose my most wonderful cargo of the finest craft gins brings me enormous joy and is a choice you will never regret!
For those of my loyal shipmates who have been on board longer, I do hope you enjoyed last month’s Knut Hansen, that distinctive elixir from Hamburg which graced November’s cargo. I had been looking forward to sharing that with you for some time! Enough of the past! What wonders do I deliver presently?
The Ribble Valley Gin Company are based in the old quarry town of Longridge, in the heart of Lancashire. They distill their gin in small batches from an old stone outhouse using local spring water and botanicals. In addition to traditional botanicals such as Juniper, Coriander Seed, Angelica and Orris Root the folk at Ribble Valley also use stinging nettles, Heather flowers, Blackberry leaves and Hawthorn berries.
For December’s cargo, naturally I wanted to source something suitably seasonal. Inspired by the Christingle, Winter’s Night Gin is wonderfully evocative of sitting inside by the fire on a cold Christmas night.
On the nose, you’ll detect the juniper and the smoky cardamom. Now have a sip neat and that smokiness comes alive on top of the citrus elements, until the peppery finish. It works beautifully with an Indian tonic, keeping much of its flavour and again - it’s the smoky notes that really make it stand out. This is the ultimate tipple to reward yourself after that Christmas walk.
This month I’ve decided to join in with the Christingle theme and included some homemade dehydrated oranges and some especially fine juniper berries for garnish. In addition to the dry tonics, I’ve included some flavoured ones in case you feel like experimenting. The Captain’s fearsome mother-in-law has also been busy in the Nautilus galley and has outdone herself with some chocolates that will be perfect for Boxing Day.
So here we are, at the end of the year. I wish you the Merriest of Christmases and hope that 2021 will be an annus mirabilis worth waiting for. And if you find yourself on your own at Christmas or when the clock strikes midnight at New Year, then know that you are never truly alone when you have shipmates and if you choose to hold a glass aloft and say ‘cheers’ on my Facebook page, then the gesture shall be returned. No buried treasure contains jewels as valuable as my courageous crew!
Love and barnacles
Your Loyal Captain