Bertha's Revenge Sloe Gin 0.5 l

Volume: 0.5 litres | Alcohol content: 25% | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Bertha's Revenge Sloe Gin uses both wild and cultivated sloes. The wild fruit comes from hedgerows around Ballyvolane House and the surrounding area and is harvested ripe in autumn. The sloes then steep in Bertha's Revenge Gin for several months before sugar syrup is added. The aim is to retain the fruit's natural acidity, with the gin providing a restrained background.

Also known as Sloe Bertha, this bottling has an alcohol content of 25% and is offered here in a 0.5-litre bottle. It can be enjoyed neat as a digestif or used in cocktails such as the Hedgerow Martini. It also makes a fruity alternative to port with cheese.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, sloes and juniper mingle with spicy notes and a hint of citrus.
• Palate: The sloe gin is smooth and mild on the palate. Berry fruit meets coriander, cloves and a little pepper.
• Finish: Spicy notes linger on the long finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Bertha's Revenge is produced by Ballyvolane House Spirits Company Limited in County Cork, Ireland. The base gin uses alcohol made from whey. During cheesemaking, milk is separated into curds and whey; special yeasts ferment the milk sugars in the whey into alcohol. This whey alcohol is then distilled with 18 botanicals and water from the company's own spring to make the gin.

A conversation with Charles Maxwell of London's Thames Distillery inspired the use of whey alcohol. Recipe development began with one-litre trial batches; on 27 April 2015, Batch 19 established the basis for the gin. It takes its name from the Irish cow Bertha, who died in 1993 at the age of 48 and gave birth to 39 calves during her lifetime.

Facts: