Tasting Notes: Wessex Alfred the Great Gin & Gooseberry and Elderflower Gin (April Subscriptions)

Camera wielded by Kat O’ Nine Tails. Dragon supplied by self-same maniac.

Ahoy shipmates!

The sun is out, and outdoor drinking can commence! Cocktails! Gardens! Friends (maybe)! This month the Nautilus has been to Surrey, near Godalming and has brought back this delivery which features a bottle as pleasing on the eye as it is on the palate from Wessex Distillery. With this historically themed gin that pays homage to Anglo-Saxon England under the reign of Alfred the Great, I thought we’d discover a little bit about him beyond ‘something about cakes’ that we learned in school.

Much of what we know about the history of Wessex and the reign of Alfred the Great is down to two sources both published during Alfred’s reign of 871-899. The Life of King Alfred, a biography commissioned by Alfred and written by Asser, a Welsh monk, and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The existence of the Chronicle provides some insight into why Alfred was, centuries later, given his name of Alfred the Great. Alfred’s intention for the Chronicle was to promote literacy and the unification of England rather than as rival regions. 

The two most dominant regions at the time were Mercia and Wessex. Mercia, for most of its existence, occupied the area above Wiltshire all the way up to about where Manchester is now and was bordered on the sides by Wales and East Anglia. Wessex at its peak covered the entire South of England. The kingdoms were either shedding each others’ blood or marrying each other’s princesses but up until Alfred’s reign life in both kingdoms was dominated by the constant threat of Viking raiding parties.

Alfred never got to achieve his goal of unifying the kingdoms, but his work prepared for it to happen under his grandson Æthelstan in 927 who became the first King of England. Alfred’s military mind was formidable and it was his military strategy that was responsible for England’s system of boroughs and shires - fortified towns positioned to better resist the Vikings.  However, history focuses too much on violence, and hasn’t taught us how to avoid it yet so let’s discuss one of the most wholesome of his achievements - the promotion of learning. 

Alfred was a great advocate of the liberal arts and the pursuit of wisdom. He believed that any freeborn son who did not have an obvious path to employment should not only be educated, but educated in English rather than Latin. He also encouraged people in important positions to be literate and formed a court school to this end for the education of children born of noblemen, attracting scholars from other kingdoms to teach there. This reconstruction of education was especially important as education and culture had declined since the Roman era. Alfred laid the foundations for modern England. 

Now that you’ve kindly indulged me, shall we start sipping?

Wessex King Alfred Gin

The Wessex Distillery was started in 2017 by the Clark family. 

Alfred the Great is their original dry gin. As inspiration for their botanicals, the folk at Wessex Distillery used an ancient book called the Herbarium, a tome describing medicinal plants and their contemporary usage, which was first translated into Anglo-Saxon in c.1000 ad.

On the nose it’s very juniper forward with some earthy tones - it has a wonderful aroma. It’s very easy on the palate, full of taste but quite light. The juniper is upfront with citrus notes. The finish is exceptionally smooth with some aniseed notes courtesy of chervil, a relative of parsley and peppery flavour. Botanically, the chervil is the only stand out unusual botanical - the rest of the profile is all about balance. Incidentally it’s possible Alfred himself used Chervil to provide relief from ill health - he is thought to have suffered from Crohn’s Disease.

To complement the gin, I’ve included some Indian tonics and an orange. I’d recommend a twist of orange rather than a chunk with this one. 

Wessex Gooseberry and Elderflower Gin

When it comes to the Gooseberry and Elderflower gin, your nose will tell you what to expect as the bittersweet notes hit you. On the palate, you can taste the juniper but that syrupy gooseberry flavour takes over. The finish is warm but smooth and although there are some light floral notes - the elderflower is difficult to detect. 

I have therefore this month included two cans of elderflower tonic to bring that flavour out. It’s beautiful neat, but needs tonic to complete the picture. It may not quite be summer yet, but drink one of these and it will feel like it is. Refreshing, and easy to drink. I have also included a lemon - add a twist for garnish.

If you have a monthly subscription, next month we’ll be back up to the North-West to try one of my favourite Old Tom gins.

Until the next time, brave crew, I bid you adieu

The Captain