The Martin Millers gin distillery is located in the heart of England's Black Country. The spirit is batch distilled (many gins are distilled continuously) in a 100 year old copper still that was made by John Dore and Co. The distillate is then shipped to Iceland on a 3000 mile round trip to be blended with glacial water as it is much purer and softer than most bottled waters we see on our shelves today. This water cuts the strength of the gin to 40% (or 45.2% is it's the Westbourne strength).
Martin Millers have just the two products that I am aware of. They have the standard 40% gin and the 45.2% Westbourne strength gin. I'm pretty sure (although I could be wrong - and please correct me if I am) that 45.2% is some what of a magic number… I believe it relates back to the days of fighting at sea with cannons and the like because if gin, or rum, was spilt on gunpowder, providing the gin was 45.2% or stronger in alcohol, then the gunpowder would still ignite. Meaning that a cannon operator could happily drink as much gin whilst on the job as they liked.
--Gin History--
Gin originated (properly - it is believed that Juniper based spirits go back the the12th century but were used for medicinal purposes) in Holland in the 17th century and was discovered by the English when fighting alongside the Dutch in war. The Dutch used to do shots before going into battle and this is where the term "Dutch courage" originates from.
Gin was brought back to England and due to heavy import taxes and high beer prices people started to make gin themselves. By 1740 gin was out producing beer six times over so the government introduced the gin act which caused rioting so had to abolish it then reinstated it in 1751. The gin act at the time stated that if you could see the persons face who was selling the gin a tax had to be imposed. This was overcome by one particular chap who made a hole in his wall through which he could pass the gin and receive payment. He painted a picture of a Tom Cat on the wall and this is where the name "Tom Gin" came from. Tom gin is sweeter than gin is today but a very good gin liqueur called Haymans 1820 tastes very similar. Incidentally the cocktail called "Tom Collins" is made with Tom gin.
Although London Gin can be distilled anywhere in the world Plymouth Gin can only be distilled in Plymouth
--Martin Millers Gin Botanicals--
Juniper berries from Tuscany, lemon and orange peel from Seville, orris root from Italy, angelica root from all over Europe, cardamom pods from the Far East and Coriander seeds from Russia, Eastern Europe and Morocco. Although these locations are likely to vary as they source the try to source finest quality botanicals regardless of location.
Each of these botanicals gives the gin its own subtleties and flavours.
Juniper berries - The main ingredient in all standard gins. Lemon peel - Enhances the dryness of the gin whilst adding a crisp and refreshing nose and flavour. Orange peel - Uses oranges with a sweet rind to add a sweetness to the gin. Orris root - The root of the Iris plant adds an earthy note and length to the nose. Angelica root - Also adds an earthy note but also makes the gin a little dryer. Liquorice - Gives a wonderful liquorice like sweetness. Cinnamon - Warm, sweet and spicy. Cassia - Very similar to cinnamon. Nutmeg - Adds a warm spiciness. Coriander - The coriander enhances the citrus flavours of the lemon and orange whilst adding a little peppery note. There is also a secret ingredient that no-one is allowed to know…
--Tasting Notes--
-Colour-
The colour of Martin Millers gin, as with most gins, is clear and the body is reasonably viscous.
-Nose-
When nosing the spirit I pick up on Juniper and then the Seville Orange. Lots of Orange. Then the other citrussy notes of the lemon come through. The overall smell is quite sharp but rounded and very fruity, the Seville Orange providing much of the nose.
A good tip for when nosing drinks is to smell the back of your hand when changing between drinks. This action cleanses the palette ensuring that there is little residual smell from the previous spirit or otherwise in your nose.
-Taste-
Again I get that wonderful, fruity, Seville Orange flavour that sits on the centre of the tongue for an incredibly long finish. I can taste the other botanicals but they are blended so well that I find it difficult to distinguish them and am left again with that warm citrussy flavour.
If you want to properly taste the gin the best way to do so is to pour 1 part gin to 1 part of chilled mineral water and all of the individual flavours of the botanicals will be released. When I add some water I can definitely find the Nutmeg and peppery-ness of the Coriander.
Overall, the flavour is very round and very fruity. A very long finish (as you'd expect with a gin of this quality) and a wonderful balance on the palette.
The official tasting notes say;
"Your first sip will conjure up the scent of oriental flowers at dusk and a whisper of clean stands of trees in the winter wind. Or you may find the sharp, citrus fragrances reminding you of a warm night in Seville. So smooth it can even be drunk neat."
--Cocktail Suggestions--
-Classic Cocktails-
-Gin Martini
2 Measures of Martin Millers Gin Dry Vermouth (Such as Noilly Prat)
Stir in a shaker with lots of ice. Very little Vermouth provides a dry Martini whereas extra makes the Martini wet. Garnish with an olive, some lemon or lime rind, a pickled onion or anything else you fancy…
Build in a Whisky tumbler with plenty of ice and garnish with the rind of an orange.
-Contemporary Cocktails-
-Bloomsbury
2 Measures Martin Millers gin 1 Measure Sauvignon Blanc ½ Measure of Freshly squeezed Lemon juice Dash Apple Juice ½ an apple 8-10 grapes Dash of Gomme syrup
Muddle the grapes with the apple an sugar. Add the gin, lemon juice and sauvignon blanc. Shake and double strain into a Collins glass. Top up with apple (if needs be) and garnish with a small bunch of grapes of some sort of crazy apple shape…
-Victorian Mojito
2 Measures Martin Millers gin 10-12 Mint leaves 6 Wedges of lime Bar spoon of sugar Splash of Gomme syrup Apple juice
Muddle the mint, lime and sugars in a Collins (high-ball) glass. Add the gin, fill with crushed ice, stir and finish by topping with a little apple juice. Garnish with a nice sprig of mint.
Or why not just have a gin and tonic! Served with sliced strawberries of course…
--Bottle--
I quite like the bottle. It's a modern, very linear design and looks the part amongst the gins on your back bar. If you look through the bottle you can see that they have printed a map of the 3000 mile gin voyage on the inside of the bottle.
--Personal Opinion--
Definitely in my top three gins. It's an excellent, fruity gin that works well in cocktails of all shapes an sizes, is excellent drunk neat and makes the best gin and tonic in the country (every gin and tonic drinker must try this gin with sliced strawberries instead of lemon or lime). The flavour is excellent and the long finish is even better.
Overall I think it's a 5/5 because I just can't fault it.
--Price--
A bottle of Martin Millers gin will probably cost around the region of £18 but is of limited availability
If you want to know more about Martin Millers gin just check out the website, Millersgin.com, or if you want some cocktail suggestions or a bartender for the night just drop me a message!
Thanks for reading, John!
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