England’s Northernmost distillery-slash-museum has added a new spirit to its line-up — Thirlings Dry Gin. Ad Gefrin, meaning ‘at the hill of the goats,’ is located on the edge of England’s Northumberland National Park, at the foot of the Cheviot hills. It’s just about as far north as you can go before reaching Scotland.
The distillery and museum opened its doors in spring this year as part of a multi-million-pound regenerative project. The inspiration comes from one of the 20th century’s most significant archaeological discoveries — the 7th-century summer palace of the Northumbrian kings and queens, located just four miles from the distillery’s door. The museum reveals the compelling stories of the royal court, and the history of Northumbria’s ‘Golden Age’.
Ad Gefrin launched its inaugural whisky blend, Tácnbora, at the end of last year. (The name means standard-bearer in Old English.) Thirlings is its second spirit offering — a dry gin — and utilizes the bounty surrounding the distillery: Heather and pine from the hills, elderberry and dill from the hedgerow, and Irish moss and sea buckthorn from the coast.
[See also: The Alter Life Cocktail by the Baccarat Bar at Harrods]
The dry gin is juniper heavy with notes of pine and citrus, with hints of spice and green notes of dill and herbs, and a subtle saline twist thanks to the inclusion of Irish Moss.
Used in this week’s cocktail recipe, The Midsomar, Thirlings Dry Gin is mixed with fresh cucumber and mint to bring out the gin’s green freshness.
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The Midsomer by Thirlings Dry Gin
Ingredients:
30ml Thirlings Dry Gin
Fresh cucumber, sliced
Fresh mint, approx. 10 leaves
20ml elderflower liqueur,
50ml cloudy apple juice,
10ml lime juice
10ml gomme/sugar syrup
Cubed ice
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Method:
Add a few slices of fresh cucumber and the sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker and muddle well. Add all the remaining ingredients with ice and shake well. Strain into a Martini Glass and decorate with a slice of cucumber.
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