Mermaid Zest Gin

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Mermaid Zest Gin builds on the original Mermaid Gin recipe with additional citrus fruits and wild-foraged coastal botanicals. Grapefruit and Cascade hops are combined with island-grown bergamot, lemon zest and rosemary, distilled and infused with Mermaid Gin. The result is a citrus-forward, herbal gin with a delicate maritime touch.

The recipe uses coastal rosemary and rock samphire from the shores of the Isle of Wight, alongside fruit from the historic walled garden at Osborne House, the former island residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The emerald-green bottle reflects the island's green landscape. The gin is vegan and gluten-free; this bottling contains 0.7 litres at 40% alcohol.

For a gin and tonic, serve it with Mediterranean tonic, a slice of lemon and a sprig of rosemary. Its citrus-forward, herbal character also lends itself to a spritz.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Fresh grapefruit leads on the nose, accompanied by gentle juniper.
• Palate: Lively citrus notes meet subtle sweetness and herbal tones on the palate.
• Finish: The long, complex finish leaves a rounded mouthfeel.

Distillery/Bottler:

Mermaid is created by the Isle of Wight Distillery. Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett obtained their distilling licence in 2014, bringing together their experience in brewing and winemaking. The distillery is located at the long-established Wishing Well Pub between Ryde and Seaview. Local ingredients and wild-foraged plants play an important part in its work.

The packaging also reflects specific environmental choices: the distillery uses recyclable glass and paper, sustainably sourced Portuguese cork and a compostable tamper-evident seal made from corn and potato starch. Together with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, it supports the monitoring and restoration of seagrass meadows around the island.

Facts: