The lime can be dressed up in a G&T with a lime peel, while the gorse flower sweetness could be accentuated by adding in some Fever Tree Elderflower Tonic. Conker Spirit was founded by Rupert Holloway in April 2015, launching Dorset's first gin distillery with our award-winning Dorset Dry Gin - a bright and refreshing take on a London Dry with the Dorset notes of elderberries, marsh samphire and hand-picked gorse … Cucumber Gin. The focus was only on quality. Whilst still a proper classic gin, led by a dry Macedonian juniper heart, the subtle incorporation of the Dorset notes of elderberries, samphire and handpicked New Forest gorse flowers brings bright and refreshing lighter notes to Conker.Brazenly refreshing and deftly smooth, the Dorset Dry … Conker Gin has been a bit of a slow burner. Check your inbox and confirm the link to complete the process. He knew right away that distilling was what he wanted to do and (despite no formal qualifications) began distilling almost instantly in December 2013. On the lips, the juniper hits at the same time as the spirit, creating a pine explosion that’s further accentuated by the vivacious nature of the lime peel, which also leaps in to makes itself known. Dilution brings the jammy elderberries stampeding to the fore, with the fruits somersaulting across the tongue like a troupe of marionettes. One year later in April 2015 the first bottle of the Dorset Dry was sold, only for Rupert’s first child, Beau, to join the world a few months later… This one-man-band wasn’t going to cut it! They looked at recipes together and explored the flavour journeys the gins Holloway was creating seemed to be taking. Not everyone’s heard of it, but those that know it love it. Cream. He’s determined, quietly stubborn and dead set on doing things his own way. Check your inbox. A quick glance at Conker Spirit distillery owner Rupert Holloway gives you the impression that he’s the kid whose conker would win. The Gin Man reviews Conker gin. Initially, all of the ingredients were added, along with the base spirit and New Forest spring water, to Conker Spirits’ two 30-litre alembic copper pot stills – Aunt Fanny and Pumpkin – and left to rest for 12 hours. Though a little craggy around the edges now, Holloway was a fresh face in the drinks industry when Conker Gin launched. When he hit 29, he had what he calls “an early midlife crisis,” and decided to get out of there, deciding, quite suddenly, that he’d be “bitterly disappointed if I retire or die doing what I currently do for a living.”. Cruxland Gin. Vegetal notes emerge a bit lower, with cucumber, celery and minty notes. Many producers are snobby about the multi-shot process, but we can’t say we ever noticed a change in quality between then and now…. The hearts cut is left to sit for two weeks before Holloway blends it to 40% bottling strength with New Forest spring water. Now back to your regularly scheduled review. Corner Fifty Three. Prior to starting the distillery he worked as a chartered surveyor, a job in which days stretched on for weeks and weeks into years. He’s achieved this well, with the flavours meld and intertwine delicately. Dorset Dry Gin Hand crafted in Dorset by Conker Spirit. £5 from every sale goes to the RNLI in a partnership that will last (and hopefully be extended thereafter) three years. Conker Spirit was started with no money –  “No savings. A gin that can be enjoyed neat or in the classic way with tonic. Holloway could work from a blank canvas, taking a sip-by-sip approach when creating the recipe for his Dorset Dry Gin. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users.  We’d strongly advise giving the blog a read, though accept no responsibility for those feeling the inevitable itch that comes from a long week at work who, inspired by Holloway’s successes, fire off an 8pm email to HR saying they can’t come in on Monday – or ever again, for that matter – because they’re too busy pursuing their dreams, damn it! A juniper led gin … Local botanicals accompany a more traditional line up. The palate is vivid as well; however, a bit more traditional at points. The Stills are heated until all of the alcohol evaporates away from the botanicals, taking their essential oils and flavour with it. I think Dorset Dry Gin works well in a Martini and Gin and Tonic; however, I found that the overall flavor profile works quite well across floral drinks such as the Aviation, citrus drinks like the Gimlet (especially the Gimlet) and perhaps the only thing I found it wanting in was the Negroni where the nuance was lost and all that remained was a dull juniper note. Innovative spirits, handcrafted in Dorset's first gin distillery. Gin is a clear, high-alcohol drink whose flavor is created by distilling neutral grain spirit with a combination of plant extracts (botanicals), most famously juniper berries (see also Genever). Sit back and enjoy the view whilst sampling two unique Conker Gin … Conker Spirit. Basically, Holloway now produces a concentrate which can be mixed with more alcohol and then watered down to bottling strength. Conker Street Gin is made from a traditional base of 10 botanicals in the London dry style (or "Dorset dry" as they would have it), familiar to gin enthusiasts for the juniper forward flavor. The spice, not particularly present with the original, is more fiery here and more enduring too. It’s a smooth gin with a taste that lingers – fresh at the fore, though sweet throughout. Conker is one of England's up-and-coming gin distillers. Gin is a clear, high-alcohol drink whose flavor is created by distilling neutral grain spirit with a combination of plant extracts (botanicals), most famously juniper berries (see also Genever). On the nose, both the sweet port and the woody barrel are obvious to discern, bringing a forest fruit sensation on top of what is familiar Conker Gin territory (summer meadows and soft sweetness). Once maturation reaches its optimum moment, with the liquid taking on a fiery, caramel hue, it’s disgorged and diluted to bottling strength with water. 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