QU E N C H
A pure
PAIRING
WORDS BY LOWENNA MERRITT
Inspired by the essence of the Cornish coast and its rich oysters, a new gin is welcomed to the table.
A
ward-winning distillery Salcombe Distilling Co is known for its flavourful gin which captures the spirit of a location or a moment, creating a palate enriched with nature and memory. Its latest gin is a collaboration with Michelin-starred Cornish chef, Paul Ainsworth. ‘Daring’, part of the Voyager Series, is inspired by a chef ’s signature dish and is an amalgamation of fresh Cornish flavours. The gin is distilled with whey and foraged Cornish botanicals, capturing the spirit of the Cornish wilderness, and its refreshing flavour is reminiscent of a day by the windswept coast. Southampton-born chef, Paul Ainsworth’s businesses include Paul Ainsworth at No , Caff ojano, Padstow Townhouse, The Mariners Public House and Mah Chef ’s Table, all located in Padstow and ock, Cornwall. Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at
No is famed for its high-quality ingredients served in minimalist but flavourful dishes, which incorporate Paul’s unique personality and chef ’s touch. His restaurants are esteemed around Cornwall for encapsulating the flavours of the county, using fresh foraged and local ingredients wherever possible to ensure the food is as inviting and invigorating as the Cornish landscape. His signature dish, A Tale of Porthilly, is ‘Daring’s’ inspiration. The plate celebrates the richness of the Cornish oyster, balanced with a fennel and apple salad macerated in lime juice, zest and sugar before being topped with a slice of fennel seed salami atop the oyster, which is fried in panko breadcrumbs and nori. The dish is simplistic yet fresh, and this is what ‘Daring’ gin replicates. The drink’s fragrance is rich and buttery, balanced with fennel, seashore herbs and warming allspice, all of which mirror the scents and
LEFT Paul Ainsworth
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