This process takes around 12 hours, and while initially Holloway was only producing 60 bottles a day, the newer kit and a higher botanical intensity means he’s able to process a few hundred per still per day. A quick glance at Conker Spirit distillery owner Rupert Holloway gives you the impression that he’s the kid whose conker would win. This wasn’t simple a case of soaking Conker Gin in a lump of wood, rather a little tweaking had to be done. It is all about top-notch small batch gin distilled in Dorset from British wheat spirit and New Forest Spring Water. Conker Spirit Dorset dry gin, 40%, 70cl. Dorset’s Dry Gin. Conker Spirit was founded in 2014 by Rupert Holloway, who traded in a career as a chartered surveyor to learn about and pursue creating a new gin; the Dorset Dry. Definitely go 2:1:1 with the gin if you’re using Dorset Dry in that drink. While it’s a fairly traditional flavour sipped neat, classicism goes out of the window once tonic is introduced. Vegetal notes emerge a bit lower, with cucumber, celery and minty notes. Prior to starting the distillery he worked as a chartered surveyor, a job in which days stretched on for weeks and weeks into years. Conker Spirit was very much a one-man band operation for the first year and a half, with Holloway himself distilling, bottling and labelling his gins, as well as foraging for local ingredients. Saved by The Pouring Spout. Founded in 2014, Conker Spirit was the first distillery to emerge from Dorset. Dilution brings the jammy elderberries stampeding to the fore, with the fruits somersaulting across the tongue like a troupe of marionettes. Still, that doesn’t mean things have to remain static. The distillery’s flagship offering was reduced to around 45%ABV before being added to former Port barrels (8 at a time) and left to rest for 8 weeks. Quite lovely. It can be ... Stores and prices for 'Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin… Clearly, it’s a well suited cask for the gin, as the two play off each other sympathetically enough for it to be recognisably Conker Gin, but with enough character to be a new experience in its own right and worthy of discovery. ... Conker Dorset Dry Gin. Demand has called for a bigger rig, though, so production has been upgraded to bigger distilling units, although the method has remained largely unchanged. Not just that it’s the from the first gin distillery in Dorset (it is). Cotswolds Dry Gin. Conker Dorset Dry Gin is a refreshing and smooth gin that's full of delicious notes of juniper, warm spice and floral allure. Well-deserved awards and accolades for Conker Spirit’s Dorset Dry Gin include a gold medal in the wines, spirits and liqueurs category in the 2015 Taste of the West Awards, two stars in the 2015 Great Taste Awards and gold in the best drinks product of the year category at the Dorset … Conker Street Gin is made from a traditional base of 10 botanicals in the London dry style (or "Dorset dry" as they would have it), familiar to gin enthusiasts for the juniper forward flavor. Cucumber Gin. He’s achieved this well, with the flavours meld and intertwine delicately. Whilst still a proper classic gin, led by a dry Macedonian juniper heart, the subtle incorporation of the Dorset notes of elderberries, samphire and handpicked New Forest gorse flowers brings bright and refreshing lighter notes to Conker.Brazenly refreshing and deftly smooth, the Dorset Dry … Distilled and bottled at Dorset’s first gin distillery, Conker Gin … It’s an important part of distilling (and cooking, even), as it through an ability to discern and articulate what you can taste that one vastly improves their ability to balance new recipes and ideas. Eventually, they settled upon recipe 38 (though Holloway went through 45 in total). Summery and sweet meadow-like aromas underpin the experience, with citrus and a soft, floral sweetness holding the juniper in place. Once the moment passes, juniper and elderberry intermingle happily and a warming heat of cassia comes through on a dry finish. Conker is one of England's up-and-coming gin distillers. That’s just what came to mind. Smith also helped Holloway develop his palate for picking out individual botanicals, an area that too few forget to do. Everything a Gentleman needs to know about Gin Brands – Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin Review. They looked at recipes together and explored the flavour journeys the gins Holloway was creating seemed to be taking. Holloway sent his girlfriend Emily a message to say that he’d decided to create a gin and she replied, quite accidentally, with the word ‘conker.’ He realised it was the perfect name: “nostalgic, very British and a word everyone knows but rarely uses. Gin is a clear, high-alcohol drink whose flavor is created by distilling neutral grain spirit with a combination of plant extracts (botanicals), most famously juniper berries (see also Genever). ... Aaron Knoll has run The Gin Is In, a Gin review … A lovely nose that suggests an early winter dusk in a boreal pine forest. I think Dorset Dry Gin works well in a Martini and Gin and Tonic; however, I found that the overall flavor profile works quite well across floral drinks such as the Aviation, citrus drinks like the Gimlet (especially the Gimlet) and perhaps the only thing I found it wanting in was the Negroni where the nuance was lost and all that remained was a dull juniper note. Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin Review Posted by admin on July 6, 2017 August 29, 2017 We don’t know about you but we’ve been reading all sorts of studies lately that suggest that drinking gin … The hearts cut is left to sit for two weeks before Holloway blends it to 40% bottling strength with New Forest spring water. A slight twist on a classic London Dry profile, Conker Dry Gin is well-balanced and Juniper-led, but with the bright and refreshing Dorset notes of elderberries, samphire and handpicked gorse flowers adding … We want more, Holloway. The nose is initially a bit foresty and green, with dark boreal pine and resiny juniper notes. 185. Be the first to review the Drinks by the Dram Single Cracker - Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin He soon added an old friend, Fred Gamper, to the team, and though it’s remained very much a tiny, the growing number of brilliant products (half a dozen at present, including an exquisite coffee liqueur) implies a distillery that is very much more than the sum of its parts. Spirits distilled from British wheat and New Forest Spring Water.That's the Spirit® The Dorset Dry® is a fresh approach to London Dry gin, balancing ten select botanicals with the Dorset notes … Sign up below to get the latest news, offers and events from Gin Foundry. Conker Spirit. Curio Gin. Conker Dorset Dry Gin – 40%ABV. October 2020. Though a little craggy around the edges now, Holloway was a fresh face in the drinks industry when Conker Gin launched. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Since launching, there have been two additions to the range, with both a Cask Aged and a Navy Strength releases in the winter of 2018. To taste, the orange peel is the citrus that seems to have taken control of the fore, before giving way to the flavours captured during the spirit’s gentle slumber. He knew right away that distilling was what he wanted to do and (despite no formal qualifications) began distilling almost instantly in December 2013. This Gin repository focuses on the stories behind Gin brands, what they taste of and how they are made. Corner Fifty Three. Overall, I think that the balance in this gin should make it a welcome addition to any home gin cabinet or any bartender’s craft gin arsenal. A peak at Holloway’s blog shows his positivity and determination –  every hurdle back in the day was taken as a lesson, rather than an exercise in futility. We are Conker Spirit, Dorset’s first gin distillery. It just never needed to grow up. Many producers are snobby about the multi-shot process, but we can’t say we ever noticed a change in quality between then and now…. Adding to the usual gin botanicals, elderberry, marsh samphire and hand-picked gorse flowers give this craft gin its unique character. The drink sits well when sipped on ice, but the very nature of its evenly-spread botanical mix means that its one you can play with. Gin Bottles Alcohol Bottles Wine Label Design Bottle Design Premium Gin Gin Distillery Gin Brands Gin Gifts Gin … Now back to your regularly scheduled review. Nicely balanced overall with a lovely green profile that suggests verdant fields and dark forests, while still highlighting a lot of traditional gin character through juniper, coriander and citrus primarily. Seek this one out.  We’d strongly advise giving the blog a read, though accept no responsibility for those feeling the inevitable itch that comes from a long week at work who, inspired by Holloway’s successes, fire off an 8pm email to HR saying they can’t come in on Monday – or ever again, for that matter – because they’re too busy pursuing their dreams, damn it! On the lips, the juniper hits at the same time as the spirit, creating a pine explosion that’s further accentuated by the vivacious nature of the lime peel, which also leaps in to makes itself known. Conker Spirit’s Dorset Dry Gin stands in stark concept to some of the other gins in this year’s gin advent celebration. The name Conker, incidentally, was a happy accident. Only one conker will emerge victorious, its owner grinning savagely through a face smeared with the entrails of lesser seeds. Fred came to the … For those not in the know, a conker is the seed of a horse chestnut tree. To the nose, it’s a cacophony, with everything rushing forwards at once and shouting to be heard. The Stills are heated until all of the alcohol evaporates away from the botanicals, taking their essential oils and flavour with it. It really is a beautifully captivating gin, with a rose gold hue to the colour of the liquid. Holloway himself recommends a Martini with a dry vermouth and a grapefruit peel twist, a mix we certainly enjoy ourselves (suggested ratio is 5 parts Conker, 1 Vermouth)… It’s delicately poised though, so suits being served both classic or with at twist in a Martin. If you are going classic, take our word for it and try Belsazar Dry Vermouth – it partners really well. I now get to call myself ‘Head Conkerer’ as well.”. Conker Spirit was started with no money –  “No savings. Dorset Dry Gin was also featured in my book Gin: The Art and Craft of the Artisan Revival, which makes a great Christmas gift. The palate is vivid as well; however, a bit more traditional at points. But it’s no surprise that before I even write about this gin, I’ve a little soft spot for it. For Conker Gin, the eureka moment came when Holloway realised that he couldn’t buy a local G&T, despite the fact that there are craft brewers and distillers popping up all over the country. It’s made just up the road from where I was born, it’s the first/only gin distillery in Dorset, and it not only makes a tasty gin, … Conker is Dorset's first gin distillery. Dorset Dry Gin Distilled in Bournemouth from British wheat spirit and New Forest Spring Water, the Dorset Dry is our refreshing take on a classic London Dry; 10 botanicals well-balanced and Juniper-led, with the bright and refreshing Dorset … Zilch,” says Holloway. Conker Spirit’s Dorset Dry Gin stands in stark concept to some of the other gins in this year’s gin … Discover our blog full of gin cocktail recipes, reviews, competitions and everything you ever wanted to know about gin! Dorset Dry Gin was also featured in my book Gin: The Art and Craft of the Artisan Revival, which makes a great Christmas gift. One year later in April 2015 the first bottle of the Dorset Dry was sold, only for Rupert’s first child, Beau, to join the world a few months later… This one-man-band wasn’t going to cut it! The aroma is unsurprisingly, given the intentions, overwhelmingly rich with pine and elderberry, a duo that we’ll confess to having a soft spot for here at Gin Foundry. Overall: A wonderful take on dry gin that would shine with a helping of elderflower tonic. Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin Holloway aimed to create a well-balanced gin, with no botanical much more dominant than any other. Holloway could work from a blank canvas, taking a sip-by-sip approach when creating the recipe for his Dorset Dry Gin. With Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin Holloway aimed to create a well-balanced gin, with no botanical much more dominant than any other. On the nose, both the sweet port and the woody barrel are obvious to discern, bringing a forest fruit sensation on top of what is familiar Conker Gin territory (summer meadows and soft sweetness). It ... Stores and prices for 'NV Conker Spirit Dorset Dry Gin… Check your inbox and confirm the link to complete the process. Botanicals include … Once maturation reaches its optimum moment, with the liquid taking on a fiery, caramel hue, it’s disgorged and diluted to bottling strength with water. Conker Spirit was founded by Rupert Holloway in April 2015, launching Dorset's first gin distillery with our award-winning Dorset Dry Gin - a bright and refreshing take on a London Dry with the Dorset notes of elderberries, marsh samphire and hand-picked gorse … Forest floor with deep red jammy fruit is hard not to love and this gin teases you in to sniffing far too aggressively. A juniper led gin … Local botanicals accompany a more traditional line up. £5 from every sale goes to the RNLI in a partnership that will last (and hopefully be extended thereafter) three years. We are in pursuit of the new and exciting, with a ruthless focus on quality. The bottle itself is short and stout and really stands out on shelves. This dry gin combines Macedonian juniper with local elderberries, samphire and gorse flowers. 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