Co-founders of the UK based CASK Liquid Marketing Richard Herbert and Stuart Ekins launched their own spirits brand back in 2012. Their first release under the Cremorne 1859 banner was a London Dry gin named Colonel Fox, complete with a fox adorned label created and drawn by artist Charlotte Cory. Charlotte used the year of 1859 as inspiration, with Charles Darwin publishing the Origin of Species, leading to the shock of the Victorians learning that they were in fact animals, whilst also seeing photography becoming cheap enough for everyone to be able to afford to have their picture taken.
Its back-story is fictional yet rather divulging, tending the period of the 19th Century. * “Having fought in several wars throughout his career, he retired in 1859 and went onto run the popular pleasure gardens known as Cremorne Gardens. Based by the River Thames in Chelsea, London, Fox was visited by Queen Victoria there on a number of occasions, when she came for afternoon walks with Prince Albert and ended up having a Gin Colonel Special cocktail as well. His wild stories of his globe-trotting adventures kept the Queen and the Prince well-entertained. Recognised as a war-hero, who fought at Waterloo, and travelled through the Middle East as well as in parts of Africa, Europe and Australasia, Fox was a true 19th Century gentleman, whose tales and stories kept every one under rapture, helped along by his gin. It was whilst he was travelling that he found a recipe for gin, that is the one that CASK based theirs on. Sadly, these gardens closed in 1877, never to open their doors again and Fox’s gin soon became a hidden secret, buried in time.”
Colonel Fox’s London Dry is produced by Charles Maxwell of Thames Distillery and uses the classic London Dry recipe containing six botanicals (juniper, coriander, cassia, angelica bitter, orange peel and liquorice).
So how does it fare? Well below, I give to you my tasting notes –
Colonel Fox’s London Dry – 40%
Elegant on the nose with plenty of juniper and citrus aromas. Fruity and well balanced on the palate with some sweetness followed by juniper, spice and citrus fruit. dominate.
How about their second release? The Wild Balckthorn Sloe Gin is a traditional English Liqueur made using Colonel Fox’s London Dry gin, steeped with sloe berries from the Hawthorn tree, and blended with natural sugar.
Gentleman Badger’s Wild Blackthorn Sloe Gin – 26%
Soft sloe berry on the nose. Slight strawberry aroma, with delicate garden flowers coming through. Soft on the palate, with a more bolder hit of blackcurrant and an underlining sweetness. Dry as it nears the finish, with pepper and spice notes just about to burst through. Lingering.
If you’ve ever been to one of my gin masterclasses, you’ll know that I’m a big believer in giving you an experience, and that the garnish can make or break even your most favourite drink. Something as simple as say this –
Colonel’s Tonic
Glass –
Rocks
Ingredients –
50 ml Colonel Fox’s London Dry
Fentimans Tonic
Method –
Fill a rocks glass with cubed ice. Pour in Colonel Fox’s London Dry and slowly pour over the Fentimans Tonic. Add an English orchard cherry for garnish.
Simple, easy and my my is it refreshing. Worth a pop into your drinks cabinet, and if you can, pick up the Gentleman Badger’s Wild Blackthorn Sloe Gin, also under the Cremorne 1859 banner.
* Back-history credited to Gin Foundry
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