Forest London Dry Gin: The Only Gin to Win Two Double-Gold Medals in One Year
Double Gold Medal Winner (x2) San Francisco World Spirits Awards | World's Best 50 Gins | UK's Highest Altitude Distillery | 42% ABV | Handcrafted in batches of 85 bottles
Key Product Information
- Distillery: Forest Distillery, Cat & Fiddle
- Location: Macclesfield Forest, Peak District
- Altitude: 1,689 feet (UK's highest)
- Type: London Dry Gin
- ABV: 42%
- Volume: 70cl (700ml)
- Batch size: Maximum 85 bottles
- Botanicals: Wild foraged + organic certified
- Water: Ancient distillery spring
- Filtration: Unfiltered
- Production: Hand-ground, pestle & mortar
- Bottle: Handmade Staffordshire porcelain
Tasting Notes
Nose
Fresh, green forest pines with vibrant botanicals. Clean juniper notes accompanied by aromatic forest herbs.
Palate
Initial hit of juniper followed by fresh ferns and sweet berries. Wild bilberries, raspberries, and Peak District moss create complex, earthy sweetness.
Finish
Long, deep, and earthy from the Peak District moss. Lasting impression of forest floor character with subtle berry sweetness.
Wild Foraged Botanicals from Macclesfield Forest
Core Botanicals (Organic Certified)
- Organic Juniper Berries: Traditional gin foundation providing classic juniper character
- Organic Coriander Seeds: Adding citrus and spice complexity
Wild Foraged Botanicals (From Macclesfield Forest)
- Wild Bilberries: Sweet, earthy berry notes unique to Peak District moorland
- Raspberries: Fresh, bright fruit character
- Gorse Flowers: Subtle coconut and almond nuances
- Peak District Moss: Distinctive earthy depth and forest floor character
- Local Ferns: Green, vegetal freshness
All wild ingredients sustainably foraged with landowner permission from Macclesfield Forest.
What Makes Forest London Dry Gin Extraordinary
- Historic Double Achievement: The only gin ever to receive two separate double-gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirit Awards in the same year
- UK's Highest Altitude Distillery: Produced at 1,689 feet elevation in the iconic Cat & Fiddle Inn, formerly a 17th-century stone barn
- Truly Small Batch: Maximum 85 bottles per batch ensures exceptional quality control and consistency
- Hand-Ground Botanicals: Every botanical is ground by hand using traditional pestle and mortar, no industrial processing
- Wild Foraged Ingredients: Botanicals harvested from Macclesfield Forest create unreplicable terroir-driven character
- Ancient Spring Water: Pure water from the distillery's own ancient Peak District spring at 1,689 feet elevation
- Artisan Presentation: Each bottle handcrafted from English porcelain by Wade Ceramics (est. 1810) in Staffordshire
- Unique Artwork: Screen-printed papercut design by artist Suzy Taylor, hand-applied to each bottle, depicting a weasel among forest flora
- Unfiltered Quality: Non-filtered for maximum flavour retention and natural character
Perfect For
Gin Enthusiasts Who Appreciate:
- Award-winning, world-class gins
- Terroir-driven, foraged botanicals
- Artisan production methods
- English craft spirits
- Collectible bottles
- London Dry style with unique character
Occasions:
- Luxury gift for gin lovers
- Special celebrations
- Gin collection centerpiece
- Peak District-themed gifts
- Craft spirits appreciation
- Unique wedding or anniversary gifts
How to Enjoy Forest London Dry Gin
Classic G&T
50ml Forest Gin, premium tonic water, fresh berries, and a sprig of rosemary. Serve over ice in a balloon glass.
Martini
Perfect for martinis where the complex botanical profile shines. 60ml gin, 10ml dry vermouth, lemon twist.
Neat
Serve chilled in a small glass to fully appreciate the wild foraged botanicals and forest character.
Recommended Garnishes
Fresh raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries to complement the wild berry notes. Rosemary or thyme sprigs echo the forest botanicals. Juniper berries for purists.
Traditional Hand-Crafted Production Process
- Foraging: Wild botanicals sustainably harvested from Macclesfield Forest with landowner permission
- Preparation: All botanicals hand-ground using traditional pestle and mortar, preserving essential oils
- Steeping: Organic juniper and coriander steeped in organic grain spirit alongside prepared wild botanicals
- Distillation: Small batch distillation through copper pot still in 17th-century stone barn
- Condensation: Alcohol vapour and botanical oils immediately cooled in copper condenser
- Blending: Fragrant spirit blended with ancient spring water from distillery's own source
- Bottling: Unfiltered gin bottled at 42% ABV in handmade Staffordshire porcelain
- Finishing: Hand-applied screen-printed artwork by Suzy Taylor completes each bottle
Maximum batch size: 85 bottles. Each batch maintains the same exacting standards that earned double-gold recognition.
About Forest Distillery
Founded in 2014 by husband and wife team Lindsay and Karl Bond, Forest Distillery began as home distilling experiments using foraged ingredients from Macclesfield Forest. What started at their kitchen table rapidly evolved into a thriving business.
In 2019, the Bonds took over the historic Cat & Fiddle Inn, a 17th-century stone barn in the Peak District National Park. At 1,689 feet elevation, this makes Forest Distillery the UK's highest altitude distillery. In 2021, they opened to the public with distillery tours and began full production at the site.
The distillery's commitment to locality extends beyond botanicals. Their porcelain bottles are handmade by Wade Ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent, who have created bespoke ceramic products since 1810. The distinctive artwork is created by papercut artist Suzy Taylor, who hand-cuts all designs from single pieces of paper using a scalpel and magnifying glass.
Forest Distillery operates with a strong sustainability focus, working towards B Corp Certification. They use 100% renewable electricity, manage water carefully through their aerobic treatment system, and support local businesses, charities, and projects throughout the Peak District community.
The Iconic Staffordshire Porcelain Bottle
Forest Gin's distinctive presentation is as remarkable as the liquid inside. The Bonds insisted on using locally sourced materials, leading them to Wade Ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent.
Wade Ceramics Heritage: Established in 1810, Wade has created bespoke ceramic products for over two centuries. Each Forest Gin bottle is individually crafted using traditional English porcelain techniques.
Suzy Taylor's Artwork: The screen-printed design features a weasel among Macclesfield Forest flora. Taylor is renowned for hand-cutting all artwork from single pieces of paper using only a scalpel and magnifying glass, then the design is hand-applied to each bottle.
Second Life: The beautiful porcelain bottles often get repurposed by customers as vases, decorative pieces, or collectors' items, extending the life of these artisan creations.
Awards and Global Recognition
San Francisco World Spirits Awards
In 2016, Forest Gin achieved what no other gin has accomplished: winning two separate double-gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirit Awards in the same year. This unprecedented achievement requires unanimous agreement from all judges that the spirit deserves gold medal recognition.
World's Best 50 Gins
Forest London Dry Gin has been selected as one of the World's Best 50 Gins, placing it among the most exceptional gins produced globally.
Global Distribution
Forest Gin is listed in finest bars, restaurants, hotels, and lounges worldwide, with particular presence in the UK, Japan, and international markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What makes Forest Gin different from other London Dry gins?
A: Forest Gin uses wild foraged botanicals from Macclesfield Forest, including Peak District moss, wild bilberries, and local ferns. These create a unique terroir-driven character impossible to replicate elsewhere. The hand-ground preparation and ancient spring water further distinguish it.
Q: How many bottles are in each batch?
A: Maximum 85 bottles per batch. This exceptionally small batch size ensures meticulous quality control and consistency.
Q: Is the porcelain bottle recyclable or reusable?
A: Yes! Many customers repurpose the beautiful handmade porcelain bottles as vases, decorative pieces, or keep them as collectors' items. The bottle is a work of art in itself.
Q: Why is it called London Dry if it's made in Macclesfield?
A: London Dry is a production style, not a geographic designation. It refers to the distillation method where all botanicals must be added before or during distillation, with no artificial flavours or colours added after. Forest Gin follows this traditional method.
Q: What's the shelf life once opened?
A: Gin doesn't spoil. Once opened, store upright in a cool place away from direct sunlight. Quality remains excellent for several years, though the botanicals are at their peak within 1-2 years of opening.
Q: Can I visit the distillery?
A: Yes! Forest Distillery at the Cat & Fiddle offers regular gin and whisky tours on weekends. Tours include tastings and access to the historic distillery. Advanced booking required.
Understanding English Craft Gin
The English gin renaissance has seen exceptional craft producers emerge across the country, but few can claim the heritage, innovation, and international recognition of Forest Distillery. Unlike mass-produced gins, craft English gins like Forest prioritize quality over quantity, local sourcing, and artisan production methods.
Forest Gin represents the pinnacle of what English craft gin can achieve: combining traditional London Dry methods with innovative wild foraging, sustainable production, and uncompromising quality standards. The result is a gin that has earned global recognition while remaining deeply rooted in its Peak District terroir.
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