12 minute read
A PURE PAIRING
from DRIFT 12
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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.
Award-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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aura of a summer’s day by the wild, unspoilt coast. The palate of the drink is that of a soft, velvety mouthfeel, flavours of zesty lime and blood orange cutting through notes of sweet liquorice to create a lively sensation. The subtle underlying notes are that of umami from oyster leaf, perfectly balanced with earthy angelica. The finish is smooth with depth and length, as the tang of sharp citrus and the warmth of green cardamom and anise linger on your tongue. ‘Daring’ matches its name, as it strikes the delicate balance between a biting zestiness and a rich warmth, much like the contrast between the sharp salty cool of the Cornish ocean and the gentle warm heat of the summer sun’s rays.
The drink recreates the soft and rich mouthfeel of A Tale of Porthilly’s Cornish oyster, and this is done through a distillate of milk whey, sourced sustainably from Briddlesford Dairy, where Paul similarly sources the whey for the butter served at his restaurants. The milk vodka base is blended with English wheat grain spirit, creating a harmonious smoothness ready to be infused with Cornish flavours. The spirit is combined with hand-selected botanicals, including fresh fennel, Cornish apples, seaweed, blood orange and fresh lime before being blended with oyster leaf and seaweed distillates. The finished product is indulgent, delicate and the perfect companion as you watch the fiery sun set into crashing Cornish waters.
Salcombe Gin has won a vast array of awards for their uniquely crafted artisan gin. Inspired by the magical energy of the coast and water, Salcombe Gin is based around the coastal vitality of Salcombe and its shipbuilding heritage for exotic trading. Their waterside distillery on Island Street is one of the world’s only distilleries directly accessible by boat, and every drop of their produce is crafted with the environment at heart. This is why Salcombe Gin is the perfect match for a Cornish gin collaboration, as they understand the process of replicating the seaside aura in bottled form.
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‘Daring’ will be the seventh of Salcombe Gin’s Voyager Series, a collection of limitededition gins developed in collaboration with world-renowned chefs or iconic winemakers, each of which reflect their unique style and personality. On his part in the collaboration, Paul Ainsworth says: “Living here in Cornwall, we wanted to evoke a sense of being by the sea and include local flavours and botanicals that we enjoy in our restaurants.”
Named after a Salcombe Fruit Schooner, built in Salcombe for owners based in Padstow, the drink is an ode to the heritage of Cornwall. “The name also recalls a time when our quaint fishing village of Padstow was a thriving merchant port, whose ships transported spices all over the world,” Paul explains. “‘Daring’ was one of the ships, built for owners in Padstow: it is also the perfect word to describe the driving force and ethos of The Ainsworth Collection.”
To make the most of the rich, oceanic flavours of ‘Daring’, fill a large gin glass with ice and slowly pour one large measure of gin to three parts of a high quality Indian tonic water. Garnish with thin slices of red or green apple and enjoy. This drink is best served sat al fresco, with a view of the wild Cornish ocean.
salcombegin.com paul-ainsworth.co.uk
TOP The perfect pairing of A Tale of Porthilly and a glass of ‘Daring’ and tonic
Perfection PERSONALis
WORDS BY DAN WARDEN
TOP Halekai, a bespoke build
Claire Matches
ABOVE Classic yachts from Pendennis
NAUTICAL
In conversation with Pendennis Shipyard’s Nick Kearton, on what goes into the restoration of a superyacht.
Pendennis Shipyard is one of the world’s leading facilities, with a heritage spanning more than 30 years, a portfolio of more than 250 extremely diverse refit projects, and a focus on creating one-off custom build sail and motor yachts. In a A with Nick earton, Project Manager at Pendennis, we learn more about the shipyard ethos and gain insight into one of Nick’s recent projects the restoration of 1930s classic motor yacht, Marala.
Tell us more about Pendennis Shipyard
Our ethos is that ‘perfection is personal’ and therefore all our projects are completely bespoke. They are also world-class, and Pendennis’ full-service facility, with direct seaward access, is capable of building, refitting and restoring yachts up to 100 metres. More recently, the investment into Vilanova Grand Marina and the development of our Technical Service Centre on site near Barcelona, also provides additional services for superyachts in the Mediterranean.
Over 400 highly skilled tradespeople are employed at the Falmouth base alone, and it’s their expertise and dedication that have made Pendennis the globally renowned superyacht company it is today.
What led you to Project Management at Pendennis?
Straight after sixth form college I joined the Merchant Navy as an o cer and travelled the world working for a major container shipping line, and was even lucky enough to have spent time on a British Antarctic Survey vessel. Along the way I earned a degree from the University of Plymouth in Marine Studies and Naval Architecture, which cemented my interest in the large yachting industry. I worked my way up through the ranks as a deck o cer, but eventually made the decision to come ashore and move back home to Cornwall. Pendennis was at the top of my list of local companies to approach and 10 years ago I was lucky enough to be offered a place on their Project Management Graduate Scheme. Over the years I have worked on a host of yachts, including project managing the exterior works on 85.9m Aquila, the restoration of Haida and a major year refit of the m Leander.
What level of work goes into the restoration of a superyacht?
A huge amount of time, knowledge and skills go into the refit and restoration of a yacht. Ideally, the team starts work on a large-scale project such as Marala the m classic
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Camper & Nicholson motor yacht that I am currently project managing the restoration of a good six months in advance. This can include client site visits, specification writing, contract and budgeting work, project planning and potentially even sea trialling prior to arrival.
Then when a project arrives, it’s full steam ahead. One of the USPs at Pendennis is that due to our large highly skilled in-house labour force we can conduct large scale refit and restoration projects in a relatively short time frame. The in-house control that we have through our various departments (including specialist fabricators, engineers, joiners, painters, electricians, and deck outfitters means that we are less reliant on sub-contractors than some of our other European counterparts. Following the execution phase of the refit, the team then has a programme of recommissioning and sea trialling to conduct before the yacht can depart and we have a dedicated team based out of Falmouth that offers global support to our clients all year round anywhere in the world.
Could you tell us more about Marala and the unique challenges around her restoration?
Marala is a beautiful 1930s Camper and Nicholson Classic motor yacht. Built in steel, the yacht has had numerous modifications from her original design, not least when she was converted for naval service during World War II. Unusually though, for a yacht of her age she has had very few owners and when she came on to the market in , it was the first time in over 50 years. Marala is subsequently one of the few surviving yachts from the 1930s to have maintained her character and basic layout, as well as her original engines. Her restoration at Pendennis will ensure that the yacht retains her original character and pedigree whilst incorporating modern systems and technology.
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During her restoration a comprehensive programme of works will see upgrades to the yacht’s steelwork, domestic and electrical systems that will harness modern engineering methods. Her interior will benefit from a completely new guest area, and London-based design house Muza Lab have been commissioned to bring a new look to the décor that both respects and celebrates the 1930s spirit of the vessel.
The yacht’s exterior will see a number of superstructure modifications that aim to restore her profile closer to the original lines. She will also benefit from a complete paint programme and a combination of refurbishment and replacement to her teak decks.
The biggest challenge that we have faced with the project has been keeping the momentum up. It is a large-scale project with multiple disciplines from our in-house teams all working together in unison. Like any restoration project, you hit unexpected snags along the way and it is all about problem solving and making quick, logical decisions to keep everyone moving in the same direction.
What are clients prioritising when it comes to commissions of this scale, and has this changed or evolved since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic?
Our clients’ priorities have not really changed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; they are still looking for a personable and professional yard that can deliver a high-quality finished project whether that be a refit, restoration or new build. This is exactly what we offer at Pendennis and our forward order books are strong all through 2021 and beyond. We have a good mix of both returning and new clients at both at our main Falmouth facility and our Mediterranean Marina complex and Technical Service Centre.
What might the post-Covid world mean for your industry?
The Superyacht industry is a global market and collectively we have fared well during the Covid-19 pandemic. That is not to say that it has not proved challenging at times – I know on Marala that the movement of people and goods has not always been as smooth as we would have liked. Also, Pendennis has had to adapt its working practises to ensure a safe working environment for everyone on site, but as a team we have worked through the challenges that we have faced. Post-Covid, everything is pointing towards a strong return to business as usual.
pendennis.com
ABOVE The team, working on the restoration of 1930s classic motor yacht, Marala
BIJOUX
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