Sipsmith

AS THE FIRST TRADITIONAL COPPER DISTILLERY TO OPEN IN LONDON SINCE 1820, SIPSMITH IS CREDITED WITH SPARKING LONDON’S GIN-DISTILLING RENAISSANCE. THE SIPSMITH DISTILLERY WAS SET-UP BY TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, FAIRFAX AND SAM, WHO SHARED A VISION TO REIGNITE LONDON’S LOVE OF QUALITY GIN AND THINGS WELL MADE.

LEFT: Ilustration of Prudence.

RIGHT: Master Distiller Jared and Sipsmith founders Sam and Fairfax. IN THE CITY WHERE GIN FIRST gained its reputation, nowhere could have been more fitting for the duos dream, and so in 2009 in a tiny garage in Hammersmith, the pair began their journey to honour distillers past through production of a traditional gin of uncompromising quality and character.

With tradition at the forefront of their minds, Fairfax and Sam purchased a beautiful handmade copper still, the first of its kind in London for nearly 200 years. Naming her Prudence, they set out to create both a recipe and process worthy of her craftsmanship.

With the wheels set in motion, the boys met Master Distiller, drinks historian and sometime underwear model, Jared Brown. His passion and commitment to the art of gin distillation was clear from the outset, and so he immediately joined the boys in their quest to create a quintessential expression of a London Dry gin.

Brown researched through history books from 1700 to the early 1900s in search of the perfect blend of 10 botanicals to begin handcrafting a gin that would honour the way gin was produced by distillers past.

To this day, every bottle of Sipsmith gin is hand crafted in the Sipsmith Distillery, meaning that every single bottle is given the same care and attention necessary to create a traditional and unique gin. Distillers Jared, Ollie and Felix are hands on in every step of production, ensuring every bottle is produced to the highest standard.

With a commitment to quality at the forefront of the brand, Sipsmith gin is produced in small batches in a custommade copper still. As the copper naturally draws out any impurities, it creates a super smooth spirit leaving it round and silky with a full mouthfeel.

Only the heart cut is taken from the distillation run, with the heads and tails being discarded, ensuring a gin full of flavour and roundness. Every bottle of Sipsmith gin is made using the uncompromising One-Shot method, a method whereby the only product that reaches the final bottling stage is the heart cut of the run, diluted simply with water to blend it down to bottle strength, creating a pure, unadulterated, and highly sippable spirit.

Sipsmith has been voted in the top 5 best trending gins by the World’s Top 50 Bars for the last 4 years in a row, with over 30 international awards under their belt, and distribution in over 28 countries, Sipsmith is fast becoming London’s premium dry gin of choice.

As the business grows, as does Sipsmith’s passion and dedication to making gin in the traditional way. In 2014 they purchased two sister stills for Prudence, Constance and Patience, upping their production but never compromising on quality and method. ❧

Tasting notes

LONDON DRY GIN

Appearance: Clear

Aroma: Floral, summer meadow notes, followed by mellow rounded juniper and zesty, citrus freshness

Flavour: Dry juniper leads then reveals notes of lemon tart and orange marmalade before all the flavours harmonise. A dry finish with spicy juniper and a hint of lemon tart emerging

The quintessential expression of a classic, traditional London Dry Gin: bold, complex and aromatic – smooth enough for a Martini, but rich and balanced, perfect for a G&T SLOE GIN

Appearance: Deep burgundy

Aroma: Gorgeous redcurrant and ripe winter fruits with stone-fruit almond

Flavour: Cassis comes through with soft cherry hints and a rounded fruitiness. A velvety mouthfeel and balanced sweetness are clear in the finish. The result is a truly handmade sloe gin that is subtle, complex and bursting with flavour V.J.O.P.

Appearance: Clear

Aroma: Junipery pine and cedarwood dominate with hints of zesty orange

Flavour: Big juniper upfront with rich spice and notes of dark chocolate. Long and dry with a lovely balance as the juniper shines