Wessex Distillery London Dry Gin, 41.3% ABV, 70cl

Product Information

It doesn’t stand out as a distinct flavour,” says Jonathan of chervil, “but we think it adds something to the taste of juniper.” With so much experience and success behind him, it was crucial for Jonathan to make Wessex Distillery’s flagship gin as spectacular as the life of the man who inspired it. He also wanted this first gin to reflect his own palate, and the kind of gins he most enjoyed drinking in his downtime.

Tasting Notes: This is a London Dry so expect a strong juniper nose, with a touch of citrus, and a rooty finish. Our Classic Gin is strong, fiery, and full-bodied, with a perfect blend of complimentary of flavours. When the Romans beat their retreat from the British Isles, they left in their wake five kingdoms. The southernmost was Wessex, which encompassed the modern-day counties of Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. Once a great kingdom, those who have heard of Wessex today remember it mostly as the only Anglo-Saxon kingdom to resist one of history’s great invading forces: the Vikings. Or, try a negroni, equal measures of Alfred the Great gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Finally, top with a twist of orange. Inspired by this ancient text and awed by King Alfred the Great’s incredible journey, one master distiller set out to craft a gin that would pay tribute to this great man’s life and his turbulent times.We wanted to create a well-balanced, smooth, traditional craft gin. Our no-fuss approach highlights the pure quality of our distillation method and allows the juniper flavour to be the focus. Based in the Wessex countryside, our family-run local distillery strives to create heavenly, premium gin. As Jonathan says, “Our first priority was to create a new London dry gin with a Wessex twist. That’s what we’ve done with Alfred the Great Gin.” Awarded the IWSC 2022 UK Gin Producer of the Year trophy, Wessex Distillery is more than a mere producer of gin; it's a guardian of traditional English gin, an innovator of new flavour profiles, and a steward for sustainable, responsible production in the modern age. We love it in a gin and tonic,” says Jonathan. “Apple and juniper are delicious, or a twist of orange zest.” It was intoxicating stuff. As Jonathan says, “With its fascinating history, myths and stories, the idea of Wessex caught the imagination.”

Looking for the best sloe gin? Our traditional English sloe gin is patiently nurtured for over 6 months for an extremely smooth result. Our sloe berries are sourced straight from the English countryside and are steeped with natural sugar to release their rich flavour, and give the best English sloe gin it’s classic royal red complexion. This is all done by us in our local craft gin copper still. They started looking into their new home and, being England, there were many thousands of years to explore. But one historical era in particular stayed with them: Anglo-Saxon Britain. But all good things must come to an end, and after 40 years in the City of London, Jonathan decided it was time to move on. But the quiet life of post-retirement didn’t entirely appeal. Top with lemonade or soda water and garnish with an orange slice, sliced strawberries, and a mint sprig. With City of London Distillery, we very much enjoyed the benefits of being connected to a geographical location,” Jonathan says. “When we were thinking about this new distillery, we wanted the same connection.”Many gin fans will already be familiar with the distiller of whom we speak. After all, he was the man behind another Craft Gin Club gin – albeit under a completely different brand.

Wessex Distillery intertwines respect for the rich, historical tapestry of English gin-making with a forward-thinking approach to their creations. While they hold firm to time-tested methodologies – adhering to the principle that if something isn’t broken, there’s no need to fix it – they simultaneously weave in modern, innovative gin recipes to enthral a new generation of gin enthusiasts. Located half way between Haslemere and Godalming in the heart of the Surrey Hills,Wessex Distillery has been crafting gin since 2017. A family run business, this craft distillerystrives to create the best English gin. Open to visitors you can enjoy a gin distillery tour,which will takeyou step by step through the distillation process, so you can learn how we make the best British craft gin in the UK. Wessex Distillery’s Alfred the Great Gin is a citrus-led gin – a nod to Jonathan’s palate – and the supporting botanicals have been selected to pay tribute to its namesake. This includes the classic gin botanical of juniper, which is notable in this spirit for its power. In this oft-overlooked historical era, folk wisdom and fervent religion made sense of the chaos and pain of a war-torn world. It was a time of hopes and prayers, spells and enchantments, potions and alchemy, where the bounty of England’s forests and fields could mean the difference between life and death – and the Anglo-Saxons documented all their hard-earned herbal remedies in an ancient text called the Herbarium.

Tasting Notes: The Respect Gin is a beautiful London Dry Craft Gin. Precisely balanced and exceptionally smooth, it offers a strong juniper profile complemented by zesty citrus undertones. The refreshing finish is a testament to our commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Enjoy every sip of this beautiful gin that truly deserves respect. As Jonathan says, “Alfred battled the Vikings throughout his entire reign, and this is reflected in the big thump of piney juniper.” Craft gin has been growing in popularity for years, and customers are beginning to expect great craft gin options at pubs, bars, and shops across the country. English gin, in particular, is famous for its quality and authenticity. We know that the UK is full of avid gin drinkers searching for new gins to try, and that’s why gin wholesalers UK come to us. Since customers go to restaurants and pubs for a quality experience, one they couldn’t create at home, we help businesses go the extra mile. Why Work with Wessex Distillery?

Indeed, City of London Distillery made quite a name for itself as the craft gin industry boomed, winning awards all over the world. The success suited the perfectionist in Jonathan, and he worked hard to fine tune and expand the City of London Distillery range. In September 2018, his Six Bells Gin was even selected as our Gin of the Month! Often overlooked in favour of the dramatic Tudors, the controversial Victorians and the allure of the Swinging Sixties, the Anglo-Saxon era was one of the most important in English history – though, in fact, it was before there was even an England at all! Celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III with our limited edition Wessex Coronation Gin. Our family-run distillery, nestled in the beautiful Wessex countryside, has crafted this unique, regal-inspired gin to commemorate the historic occasion. Alternatively, try a Charlie Chaplin; Add equal measures of Wessex Distillery’s English sloe gin, apricot brandy, and lime juice. Shake, strain, then garnish with lime peel. We wanted to bring a bit of Wessex magic to the gins,” says Jonathan, “so we started exploring the plants and herbs that were around in the Anglo-Saxon era – not just grown here, but also what might have been brought in from overseas.”

Why not go all out and try our classic gin in a Martini. Add a drop of vermouth and finish with a twist of grapefruit into a chilled glass. When Jonathan and his wife, Gill decided to start up a brand new distillery, a passion project just for them and their amazing family to run together, they wanted to make sure that they were taking what they’d learned from their first go around and applying it in a new way. Our paramount aim has always been to achieve a clean, crisp, well-balanced gin,” says Jonathan. “We like the juniper to dominate, and to use a variety of citrus flavours to add a bit of zing.” Tasting Notes: Taste England’s best sloe gin for a pleasantly sweet, earthy flavour with subtle hints of almond. Our craft gin has a high quality, light, refreshing palate.