Hawkridge Victorian Botanical Blend: Triple Gold Award-Winning London Dry Gin
Triple Gold Award Winner | Three years in development | Made by Best English London Dry team (2021) | Victorian-era botanicals | Honey from own hives | Berkshire countryside | 42% ABV
Key Product Information
- Distillery: Hawkridge Distillers
- Location: North Wessex Downs, Berkshire
- Type: Craft London Dry Gin
- ABV: 42%
- Volume: 70cl (700ml)
- Development time: 3 years
- Botanical theme: Victorian era
- Key botanicals: 9 identified (more in blend)
- Honey source: Distillery's own beehives
- Master distiller: Phil Howarth
- Awards: Triple Gold, IWSC recognition
- Production: Small batch, traditional
Tasting Notes
Nose
Earthy anise and burst of lemon. Fragrant bouquet of bold citrus notes with meadow flowers and herbs. Fresh, inviting aromatics.
Palate
Exceptionally smooth with crisp mouthfeel. Pine forward and citrus bold. Rich in herbs with layers of juniper and coriander developing. Complex yet well-balanced with fragrant herbs and honey sweetness.
Finish
Lovely floral notes to finish with lasting hint. Beautiful forward notes of rich citrus persist. Refreshing, elegant, and friendly throughout.
Character Summary
Style: Exceptionally smooth, traditional London Dry
Dominant Notes: Rich citrus, fragrant herbs, honey
Balance: Complex yet accessible, classical with modern appeal
Victorian-Era Botanical Blend
Hawkridge Victorian Botanical Blend uses a beautiful collection of floral and herbal botanicals, all popular in the British Victorian era. This connects the gin to the romance and elegance of Victorian gardens and the Language of Flowers.
Core Botanicals
- Juniper: Classic gin foundation providing pine-forward character
- Coriander: Citrus and spice complexity, layering on the palate
- Citrus Peel: Orange and lemon peel delivering bold citrus character
Victorian Garden Botanicals
- Lavender: Delicate floral notes with calming aromatics
- Wild Blackcurrant Leaves: Unique herbal character from distillery's own botanical gardens
- Lemon Verbena: Intense lemon fragrance with herbal depth
- Fresh Mint: Bright, refreshing herbal notes
- Rosemary: Aromatic pine and citrus herbal character
- Rose Petals: Gentle floral elegance, central to Victorian romance
The Special Touch
Local Honey from Own Hives: Smoothed with a dash of honey from Hawkridge's own beehives, adding subtle sweetness and viscous mouthfeel
Many botanicals are grown in the distillery's own three-acre botanical gardens in the Berkshire countryside.
What Makes Hawkridge Victorian Botanical Blend Extraordinary
- Triple Gold Award Winner: Multiple gold and silver awards from World Gin Awards and IWSC
- Award-Winning Team: Created by the same distilling team who won 'Best English London Dry Gin' at World Gin Awards 2021
- Three Years in Development: Flagship gin meticulously crafted over three years to achieve perfection
- Victorian Heritage: Botanicals chosen to reflect British Victorian era gardens and the romantic Language of Flowers
- Own Botanical Gardens: Three acres of land where distillers grow many of their own botanicals
- Own Honey: Local honey from Hawkridge's own beehives adds unique terroir and smoothness
- Three-Part Distillation: Unique process captures all botanical flavours perfectly (steeping, botanical tea, vapour infusion)
- Master Distiller Expertise: Led by Phil Howarth with years of spirit crafting excellence
- Berkshire Countryside: Set in the outstandingly beautiful North Wessex Downs
- Exceptional Inside and Out: As exceptional on the inside as it is on the outside
Unique Three-Part Distillation Method
Hawkridge uses a unique three-step distillation method to capture all the incredible flavours from their Victorian botanicals. This technique ensures delicate flowers and herbs retain their character.
Step One: Traditional Steeping
Robust botanicals like juniper, coriander, and citrus peel are steeped in the base spirit, extracting their essential oils and flavours through traditional maceration.
Step Two: Botanical Tea
The distillers brew a botanical tea using delicate flowers like lavender and jasmine. This is strained and added to the still before distillation, allowing gentle extraction of floral character.
Step Three: Vapour Infusion
The most delicate botanicals, like mint leaves and rose petals, are placed in an infusion basket inside the still. During distillation, the gin is infused with the vapours of these fragile ingredients, preserving their subtle aromatics.
This three-part process is the result of years of experimentation and refinement, ensuring each botanical contributes optimally to the final spirit.
Perfect For
Gin Enthusiasts Who Appreciate:
- Award-winning craft gins
- Victorian heritage and history
- Floral and herbal profiles
- Traditional London Dry style
- Local honey terroir
- Own-grown botanicals
- Master distiller craftsmanship
- Berkshire countryside spirits
Occasions:
- Luxury gifts for gin connoisseurs
- Victorian-themed events
- Garden party celebrations
- English heritage gifts
- Wedding presents
- Bar cart statement pieces
- Special celebrations
- Sophisticated entertaining
How to Enjoy Hawkridge Victorian Botanical Blend
Perfect G&T
Copa glass filled to brim with ice, mix with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic (3 parts tonic to 1 part gin), garnish with fresh rosemary sprig and slice of juicy lime.
Victorian Garden Serve
Mix with premium tonic and garnish with pink grapefruit, lime, or orange segment. Fresh herbs like basil or additional rosemary complement the botanical blend.
Classic Cocktails
Dry Martini to highlight complexity, or Negroni where herbal and floral notes complement Campari and sweet vermouth beautifully.
About Hawkridge Distillers
Nestled in the heart of the outstandingly beautiful North Wessex Downs, Hawkridge Distillers creates spirit brands that look, feel, and taste irresistible. The distillery sits on Hawkridge Hill, rising proud on the valley slopes of the River Pang, deep in the Royal Berkshire countryside.
Founded by Phil Howarth, James Gurney, and Robin Horrex, Hawkridge Distillers specializes in bringing to life truly bespoke craft spirit creations. The distillery operates from a 3,000-square-foot building surrounded by three acres of land where they grow many of their own botanicals and keep their own beehives.
The landscape gifts them wild-flowers, herbs, and berries, which they incorporate into their spirits. This connection to place creates genuine terroir in their products, making each spirit distinctly of Berkshire.
Heritage and Innovation
Hawkridge's first gin, "The Blowing Stone," won "The Best London Dry in England Award" at the World Gin Awards. This established the distillery's reputation for excellence. The team went on to create multiple award-winning spirits, including "The Guards" London Dry gin and various limited editions.
The Victorian Botanical Blend represents three years of dedicated development, building on this expertise to create what they consider their flagship expression.
Master Distiller: Phil Howarth
Every spirit project at Hawkridge is led by master distiller Phil Howarth, who brings years of spirit crafting expertise to each creation.
Traditional Techniques, Modern Quality
Phil employs traditional distilling techniques that deliver much higher quality spirit than many modern production processes. Each product is batch-produced with meticulous attention to detail.
Philosophy
Using only the finest, carefully chosen ingredients and spirit, Phil and the Hawkridge team seek to make every product a masterpiece of craft distillation. The ethos extends from owners to distillery staff: produce only products that are truly distinctive and delicious.
Award-Winning Track Record
Under Phil's leadership, Hawkridge spirits have been recognized as some of the best in their category globally, with multiple gold and silver awards from prestigious competitions.
The Victorian Language of Flowers
The Victorian Botanical Blend draws inspiration from the rich romance of the Victorian era, particularly the Language of Flowers. In Victorian romantic rituals, each bloom was assigned special meaning, and exchanging flowers became a wordless way to express feelings of love and friendship.
Botanical Meanings
- Rose Petals: Love, passion, and romance
- Lavender: Devotion and virtue
- Rosemary: Remembrance and fidelity
- Mint: Virtue and hospitality
This connection to Victorian heritage makes the gin particularly special for romantic occasions and gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What awards has Hawkridge Victorian Botanical Blend won?
A: Triple Gold Award winner with recognition from both the World Gin Awards and IWSC (International Wine & Spirits Competition). The distilling team previously won "Best English London Dry Gin" at the World Gin Awards 2021.
Q: Where does the honey come from?
A: The honey is produced from Hawkridge's own beehives on their three-acre property in the Berkshire countryside. This creates unique local terroir.
Q: What is the three-part distillation process?
A: Step 1: Traditional steeping of robust botanicals. Step 2: Brewing botanical tea from delicate flowers. Step 3: Vapour infusion of the most fragile botanicals. This captures all flavours perfectly.
Q: Are the botanicals grown on-site?
A: Many are! Hawkridge grows botanicals in their own three-acre botanical gardens, including wild blackcurrant leaves, fresh mint, and rosemary. The landscape also provides wild-flowers, herbs, and berries.
Q: How long did it take to develop this gin?
A: Three years. The Victorian Botanical Blend is Hawkridge's flagship gin, and they invested significant time perfecting the recipe and production method.
Q: What makes this different from other London Dry gins?
A: The Victorian-era botanical selection, three-part distillation method, use of own-grown botanicals and local honey, and three years of development create a uniquely complex yet smooth profile.
Q: Can I visit the distillery?
A: Contact Hawkridge Distillers directly for information about distillery visits and tours in the Berkshire countryside.
Understanding Berkshire's Craft Gin Heritage
The Berkshire countryside, with its rolling hills, historic estates, and rich agricultural heritage, provides ideal conditions for craft gin production. Hawkridge Distillers exemplifies how English distilleries can create world-class spirits while maintaining deep connections to their local environment.
The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty provides not just beautiful scenery but also the wild botanicals, pure water, and ideal climate for growing herbs and keeping bees. This terroir-driven approach creates gins that genuinely taste of their place.
Hawkridge's Victorian Botanical Blend represents the best of English gin-making: award-winning quality, innovative production methods, respect for heritage, and commitment to local sourcing. It proves that English craft distillers can compete with the finest gin producers globally.
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Alex's Tasting Note: the citrus but floral nose is nicely balanced with those crushed blackcurrant leaves plenty in evidence - this is harmonious and nicely knit together. Cool mintiness and a lemony tang rise on the finish, smooth but with impact!
