Yes, you read that right.
Didsbury Gin. No, it’s not coincidence, not imagined, yes that place in Greater Manchester has a gin named after it.
It’s the night before Christmas Eve and gents Liam Manton and Mark Smallwood were drinking gin. Comparing their favourites, the flavour profiles, what they liked about each they sampled. Then a little idea crept in. What if they took the bits of their favourite gins, and made their own?
So they did.
After experimenting with their own bathtub gin, they finally found a recipe they were happy with and sought the expertise of Gin Foundry for advice on the next step.
Whilst some distillers will make their own (Manchester Gin, Zymurgorium, Manchester Three Rivers) the gents took the alternative route and the advice and help of an experienced Master Distiller, opting to work with the family run Union Distillers in Market Harborough. Armed with a batch of the refined recipe, they took the test batch to the buying panel for Harvey Nichols.
Less than six months on, and Alderman’s Didsbury Gin is now stocked in Harvey Nichols and a number of bars across Manchester, including it’s namesake. Liam and Mark took inspiration from Alderman Fletcher Moss, and the Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden, as well as Parsonage Gardens for both flavour profile, and name.
On the nose there is lots of citrus and coriander, angelica is more the backbone of this than juniper. It’s not what you’d know as a juniper forward or ‘ginny’ gin. The juniper is present, but is allowed to play more, be softer, more floral and piney. On the palate it’s herbal, the earthiness of the angelica, with some lovely soft citrus notes, the juniper again is more gentle, and the finish is a touch savoury.
And in a G&T, this is definitely an easy drinker. No bitter notes save those from the tonic – one for those who struggle with the heavily perfumed notes of a London Dry, with lots of citrus, herbals again coming through, but softened. A good refreshing G&T.
Liam and Mark hope that this will be the first of many, and there are plans already for a seasonal gin as we head into the colder months.
I can’t wait.
