Mermaid Gin

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 42% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Rock samphire from the Isle of Wight’s chalk cliffs shapes Mermaid Gin’s recipe. Known locally as “Mermaid’s Kiss”, this coastal plant gave the gin its name. The ten botanicals also include juniper, organic lemon peel, grains of paradise, elderflower, Boadicea hops, English coriander, angelica root, orris root and liquorice root. The hops grow at Ventnor Botanic Garden, while the elderflowers are gathered locally. Lemon peel and grains of paradise bring fresh and peppery accents, while the hops contribute spicy, earthy notes.

Despite its blue bottle, the gin itself is clear. After distillation, only spring water from the island is added to bring it to bottling strength. The 0.7-litre bottle contains gin at 42%. Its recyclable glass, natural cork closure and compostable tamper-evident seal are part of the plastic-free packaging concept.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, fresh citrus notes mingle with sweet spice and gentle juniper.
• Palate: On the palate, lively citrus notes meet peppery spice and earthy sweetness. A subtle maritime note complements the flavour.
• Finish: The long, layered finish leaves a rounded mouthfeel.

Distillery/Bottler:

Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett founded the Isle of Wight Distillery in 2014. Combining their experience in brewing and winemaking, they established the island’s first distillery. Since late 2017, the company has operated near Ryde towards Seaview, having left its original site at Rosemary Vineyard.

The distillery uses slow, controlled distillation in column stills. For its spirits, it selects the heart of each distillation run, separating it from the heads and tails. Mermaid Gin’s base spirit is made from barley, and the gin undergoes multiple distillations in reflux column stills. Locally gathered plants and the deliberate avoidance of plastic in its packaging connect production to the island setting. The company received B Corp certification in 2022.

Facts: