GOLDEN FORK FROM THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

Nick Wadeson has taken inspiration from his mother’s baking to serve up a classic pudding – in a glass

THE BOUTIQUE GIN market is a crowded space, but Cheshire distillery Three Wrens has come up with something that no-one else is making, by using the ingredients of a traditional British pudding as its key botanicals.

“Ours is the only apple crumble gin currently available on the market. It sits alongside our world-first Bison Grass Edition as the best-selling gin in our range,” says Nick Wadeson, who founded Three Wrens in 2019 after a career in the cocktails and spirits industry. “I think this is because of the spirit’s quality and the fact it is unusual and can’t be found anywhere else.”

But that’s not to say the concept of making gin with oats, apples and cinnamon is new. According to Nick, these simple ingredients have long been deployed.

“Oats, apples and cinnamon have been used in gin for over 200 years. We just found a new and innovative way to use them.”

Three Wrens toasts the oats and steeps them in the spirit, which is then distilled with juniper, cinnamon, nutmeg and sweet orange. It then passes through a vapour basket packed with dried apple slices to extract the flavour from the fruit.

“The apples are sourced from nearby orchards, and preserved in-house to last us throughout the year,” explains Nick.

He says it takes patience to make, as each small batch takes three days, but the warming liquor that ensues is worth the wait. The gin has an intriguing nose, with piney juniper, rich toasted oats and crisp apple. The first sip has lots of depth with buttery notes and baked apple, while the finish is long, with subtle cinnamon and gentle spice.

Three Wrens distills its gin in two copper stills – ‘Valerie’ and ‘Jill’ – in batches of 300 and 50 litres respectively. The stills are named after Nick’s mother, whose apple crumble inspired this flavour.

“I am constantly experimenting with flavours and how they pass through the distillation process,” he says. “After enjoying mum’s dessert, it started me wondering if we could use the ingredients in a gin, while preserving its soul of juniper.”

Valerie and Jill will soon be on the move, along with the rest of the team, into a new, larger distillery five miles down the road in Combermere.

“We will have greater capacity for tastings, a big botanicals wall for visitors to choose from when distilling their own gin, and of course, a cocktail bar,” says Nick.

www.threewrensgin.com

I AM CONSTANTLY EXPERIMENTING WITH FLAVOURS AND HOW THEY PASS THROUGH THE DISTILLATION PROCESS. ❞

NORTHERN COMFORT

HOW TO USE:

Serve year-round with elderflower tonic and a slice of apple, or in winter with hot apple juice and mulled spices.

LAHSEN TARKA COOKING SAUCE ★★

AAGRAH FOODS

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GARLIC SALT FINE ★★

ANNIE’S HERB KITCHEN

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BLACKTHORN SALT ★★

BLACKTHORN

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www.blackthornsalt.co.uk

RED SALTED PEPPER BERRIES 100G ★★★

BOTREE SEASONINGS

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SEA SALAD SEAWEED SHAKER ★

EBB TIDES SEAWEEDS

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MASALAWAALA TIKKA MASALA MIX ★★

EFD UK

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HOT BEETROOT KETCHUP ★★

HAWKSHEAD RELISH COMPANY

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FERMENTED WHOLEGRAIN NAKED BARLEY ★★

HODMEDOD’S

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www.hodmedods.co.uk

SUPER NEGIN SAFFRON ★★★

HUR SAFFRON

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www.hursaffron.com

CHICKEN RUB ★

JD SEASONINGS

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www.jdseasonings.com

TRADITIONAL HILOPITES ★

MAMA IRENE PASTA

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www.mamairenepasta.gr

ORGANIC LIGHT BROWN PLAIN FLOUR ★★★

MARRIAGE’S MILLERS

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www.flour.co.uk

HEALTHY EATING, MADE EASY.

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SWEET SESAME BUTTER TAHINI SAUCE ★★★

MED CUISINE

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WHEATEN BREAD MIX ★

MOURNE AND BREAD

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www.mourneandbread.co.uk

PISTACHIO PESTO ★★

MY PASTALICIOUS

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Slow-cooked beef & sausage Chianti ragu ★ Reginette ★ Suppli spicy Nduja & Mascarpone ★

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WHITE MISO SAUCE ★★

NOJO

WHAT IS IT? This paste has a deep, rich, sweet and savoury taste, designed to bring out the unami fl avours in your creations. Perfect for veggies, meat and fi sh. WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT? Add some zing to your palate with a dash of white miso sauce. A smooth and sensational addition to enhance Japanese food. Complements a healthy dish by adding a gentle sweetness. OTHER GREAT TASTE AWARDS (2021): Teriyaki sauce ★ Yuzu salad ★

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SOFT PALMYRA NECTAR ★

PALMANIA

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www.palmania.net

GARAM MASALA ★★

RAMAN SPICE & FLOUR MILLS UK

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www.ramanspice.co.uk

PERSIAN PESTO ★

SABZI KITCHEN

WHAT IS IT? Gordal olives, pistachios, fresh herbs, pomegranate, garlic and extra virgin olive oil - handmade in small batches – flavours to make your belly dance! WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT? Persian pesto can be stirred straight through pasta for a quick and easy supper or spooned straight from the jar and slathered onto fresh crusty bread as a tasty tapenade.

www.sabzi.uk

STORECUPBOARD

TRUFFLE PESTO ★

SACLA’

WHAT IS IT? Prized black summer truffles are combined with cheese, smooth cashews and pine nuts to create this indulgent pesto. WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT? The rich and robust flavour makes it the perfect accompaniment to pasta, roast chicken and scrambled eggs. A little goes a long way! OTHER GREAT TASTE AWARDS (2021): Sal De Riso Panettone Milanese ★★ Sal De Riso Panettone Limoncello ★ Sal De Riso Panettone al Tiramisu ★ Spunzillo Whole Cherry Tomato by Italianavera ★

www.sacla.co.uk

TELLICHERRY BLACK PEPPER ★

SANTA MARIA

WHAT IS IT? This Tellicherry special extra bold is the finest black pepper from Tellicherry in Kerala, India. WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT? Use our black pepper as an ingredient in recipes to add flavour and spice to meats, fish, vegetables, salad dressings, soups, stir-fries, pasta, and more.

www.santamariaworld.com

RAS EL HANOUT ★

SEASONED PIONEERS

WHAT IS IT? An aromatic spice blend of more than 15 herbs and spices, including rose petals and lavender. WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT? The perfect seasoning for your roast lamb or vegetable tagine, used as a rub or sprinkled into sauce. As used by Nigella Lawson! OTHER GREAT TASTE AWARDS (2021): Whole Black Tellicherry Peppercorns ★ Pimenton Dulce, Smoked (Smoked Paprika) ★

www.seasonedpioneers.com

SUMAC CIRRUS BERRIES WITH NATURAL EDIBLE DEAD SEA SALT FROM THE JORDAN VALLEY ★

TERRA ROSSA

WHAT IS IT? A delicious blend of whole sumac citrus berries and Dead Sea salt crystals from the Levant – the Jordan Valley. WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT? Sumac adds a delicious tangy and intense lemony flavour to anything it touches and is used whenever a dry citrusy flavour is sought after. OTHER GREAT TASTE AWARDS (2021): Baba’s Rashi & Dibis with Sesame Seeds ★ Zaatar & Pine Nuts Sauce with Crispy Onions ★

www.terra-rossa.com

GARAM MASALA BLEND ★

THE SINGING SPICE COMPANY

WHAT IS IT? Organic garam masala blend. WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT? The most important

spice blend in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. This is our very own heritage blend, ethically sourced and made using only the finest quality organic spices.

www.thesingingspicecompany.com

SIX SEED BREAD FLOUR ★★★

WESSEX MILL

WHAT IS IT? A malted seeded flour milled using wheat grown locally to the mill. WHAT CAN I DO WITH IT? Great for baking sourdough, bread machines and hand baking. OTHER GREAT TASTE AWARDS (2021): Mixed Grain Bread Flour ★★ Wessex Cobber Bread Flour ★★ Sunflower Bread Flour ★★ Half and Half Bread Flour ★ Light Brown T85 Bread Flour ★ Onion Bread Flour ★★ Oats N Bran ★★ Tomato and Garlic Bread Flour ★★★ Strong White Artisan Flour ★

www.wessexmill.co.uk

THE RIGOROUS GREAT TASTE JUDGING PROCESS PUTS EVERY ITEM THROUGH ITS PACES WITH A HIGHLY DISCERNING GROUP OF EXPERTS. WHEN I SEE THE FAMOUS LOGO, I KNOW THAT THE PRODUCT WILL BE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND WILL DELIVER EVERY PROMISE IT MAKES. ❞

Mallika Basu, cook and food writer