Our Botanicals
The intent behind MELDON DRY GIN was to create a classic, smooth recipe which would pay tribute to the character of the surrounding Tweed Valley.
Perhaps rather unfashionably, rather than aiming for any flavour-niche, we simply wanted Meldon Dry Gin to be a 'moreish', accessible gin that would appeal to gin afficionados and the less-familiar alike.
To achieve this, the majority of botanicals that were selected for MELDON DRY GIN are fairly traditional in nature - it is the careful balancing and interaction of those within the spirit that imbues our inaugural gin with its own subtle, pleasant character.
Juniper - the distinctive sharp and 'piney' taste of juniper really characterises a classic gin. The Scottish Borders is a region steeped in heritage and tradition and so it made sense for us to really go all out to capture a sense of that within our spirit by adopting a juniper-led flavour!
Coriander Seed - this time-honoured gin botanical compliments the piquancy of juniper really well with its own citrus notes, whilst adding a subtle earthiness to the spirit.
Kaffir Lime Leaf - OK, it's not a traditional gin botanical but we couldn't resist making use of kaffir lime leaf simply because it is so aromatic and offers a lingering fresh, zesty sweetness while also quietly insinuating their own citrus notes in to the overall flavour.
Black Peppercorn - these sneak a punchy zip in to the tail-end of your sip.
Cinnamon Bark - brings a comforting and warm undertone to the spirit. Cinnamon adds its own unique layer of flavour without interfering with the work of the other botanicals .
Liquorice - OK, it's not everyone's favourite flavour - fair enough. And it was a bit of a risk in using it for that reason. But it's a risk that we believe has paid off. Liquorice has a natural, dulcet sweetness which helps to temper astringency, and is present in just enough of a quantity to do that job whilst contributing some of its own flavour without overwhelming the other botanicals.
Bay Leaf - Bay is a classic, subtly aromatic botanical which plays a really important role in our spirit by really weaving in some complexity to the overall taste. Bay leaf contains over 50 individual compounds, and these all bounce off those of the other botanicals and so do some wonderful work in bringing out different layers of flavour within the spirit.
Orris Root - if we imagine that Bay Leaf is the 'social butterfly' of our eight botanicals, then Orris could arguably be viewed as the peacekeeper of the bunch! Orris has chemical properties bind the other flavours and layers together, ensuring that the botanicals all play together nicely, whilst all still getting their chance to do their thing!