Basalt Volcanic Rock Gin

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 42.1% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Basalt Volcanic Rock Gin brings together classic gin botanicals and influences from the Northern Irish coast. Alongside juniper and citrus notes, cassia, ginger and cubeb pepper shape its character; buckwheat softens the sharp, warming spice on the palate. Kombu Royale and sea buckthorn add a savoury maritime dimension to the recipe. This bottling has an alcohol content of 42.1% and comes in a bottle containing 0.7 litres, without gift packaging.

A distinctive feature is the water from the distillery’s own well, approximately 183 metres deep. It is naturally filtered as it passes through basalt rock around 60 million years old. The coordinates on the bottle’s shoulder point to the well’s location. The hexagonal bottle also reflects the geology of the nearby Giant’s Causeway, echoing its basalt columns.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Very fresh citrus notes appear first, followed by juniper. A subtle, savoury salty nuance accompanies the aroma.
• Palate: On the palate, fresh citrus notes and classic juniper combine with the sharp, warming spice of cassia and ginger. Buckwheat rounds out this spice.
• Finish: Peppery spice lingers through the long finish, reinforced by cubeb pepper.

Distillery/Bottler:

Basalt Distillery was founded by Martha Garbe and James Richardson, who met while studying chemical engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. During the pandemic, they developed their plans for a distillery of their own. Their location near the Giant’s Causeway on the Northern Irish coast provides both the geological inspiration and the basalt-filtered water for their spirits.

The founders’ technical training is reflected in their approach: Basalt Distillery uses a four-sided stainless-steel iStill rather than a traditional copper pot still. Temperature, pressure and vapour speed are carefully controlled to make the distillation reliably repeatable. Selecting the botanicals and controlling the process conditions are two interlinked steps in developing the recipe.

Facts: