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June 28, 2021

Cotswolds Dry Gin: Just Like A Cool Botanical Cloud In a Glass

Nestled in the heart of the idyllic British countryside, the Cotswolds Distillery combines two of England’s favourite things —the Cotswolds and Gin!

The Distillery is the brainchild of native New Yorker, Dan Szor. After spending thirty years in the world of finance, Dan was looking to leave the city life behind and spend more time with his family at their Cotswolds home.

And what better place to combine his love of whisky and passion to start a new business than the English countryside surrounded by fields of barley!

Szor built the first full-scale distillery in the Cotwolds and has managed to honour its heritage throughout the business. Spirits —single malt whiskey, gin, and liqueurs are all crafted using traditional methods and locally produced, high-quality ingredients.

Cotswolds Dry Gin Crafting

Nine carefully selected botanicals —juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, local lavender, bay leaf, cardamom, black peppercorn, and fresh hand-peeled lime and grapefruit zest go into the copper still.

Copper is an excellent conductor of heat and essential for converting botanicals and neutral alcohol into gin. During distillation, the metal keeps the temperature even, absorbs the sulfur —a byproduct of fermentation, and yields a smoother, cleaner gin.

Why is it cloudy?

Ten times the average weight of botanicals are used in the Cotswolds Dry Gin, and it’s the sheer amount of extracts and essential oils from them that results in its characteristic smooth taste. It’s also non-chill filtered, meaning the essential oils are not removed. A process that clearly makes this premium gin stand out from the crowd, as it creates a rich flavour and results in the unique pearlescent ‘botanical cloud’ effect when poured into a glass of ice or tonic.

My Thoughts

The extra touches that go into crafting the Cotswolds Dry Gin certainly make for a better-tasting gin. I can see why this is an award-winning spirit. ‘Cloudy G&T’s’ look and taste so refreshing. They are so perfect for a British summer garden party!

You can visit the Cotswolds Distillery in Stourton 7 days a week for a Tour and Tasting, at £15 per person. Or, book a Gin Blending Masterclass for £100 per person. The masterclass includes a Cloudy Cotswolds G&T on arrival, a detailed explanation of the gin-making process, the chance to blend your very own gin and make your own Martini. You also get to take home 2 bottles of your bespoke gin, plus a bottle of the Cotswolds Dry Gin.

How To Make A Cotswolds Dry Martini – Otherwise Known As ‘A Cool Botanical Cloud’

Martini is a blend of Gin, Vermouth (fortified wine), and ice. There are different variations of a Martini, a ‘Wet Martini’ has a greater ratio of vermouth to gin whereas a ‘Dry Martini’ means more gin and less vermouth.

You can either shake the ingredients together or stir them down, a shaken Martini is well known as being James Bond’s cocktail of choice.

Martini Recipe

75 ml Dry Gin
15ml White Vermouth
Garnish: Grapefruit Peel

Directions

Fill a Martini Glass and a cocktail jar glass with ice. Add 75 ml Cotswolds Dry Gin and 15 ml Vermouth to the cocktail jar filled with ice. Stir down the Martini 22 times (stirring chills the cocktail and marries the gin and vermouth together).

Pour the ice out of the Martini glass. Strain the Martini from the cocktail jar into the glass. Express grapefruit peel over the Martini and rest before sipping

Cotswolds Dry Gin RRP: £34.95 for 70cl (46% ABV).
Available from Cotswolds Distillery, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Majestic, Oddbins, Laithwaites, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason.

Check out Dan Szor’s book, Spirit Guide: In Search of an Authentic Life, an autobiography about his journey from finance to successful distillery founder.

Written by Beauty Editor Gabrielle Richens for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International

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