A gin made from ingredients foraged from Macclesfield Forest has won an award at an international gin festival.
Forest Gin, which is made by Karl and Lindsay Bond from Langley, has become the must have tipple for any discerning gin lover and is currently on the drinks menu at Heston Blumenthals restaurant, a Michelin starred eatery in Soho and a cocktail bar in Hong Kong.
And now experts in the gin world have given it the thumbs up, awarding it a silver medal in the ‘ultra premium’ category at The Global Gin Masters, which is part of the Global Spirits Masters competition held in London.
Karl, 37, who only began making the gin as a hobby, said: “When the results came in, and we didn’t win in the Standard or Super-Premium categories, my heart sank.
“However, to then be given a silver medal in the Ultra-Premium section was just amazing”.
Lindsay, 35, who distils and bottles the gin while Karl delivers and hosts tastings, said: “We are just so proud and surprised by the success.
“The nicest thing is that the medal is based on blind tastings, so it is purely about the taste”.
The Bonds’ homemade gin beat off competition from more than 70 gins from around the world including big brands such as Greenalls and Beefeater.
While the exact recipe is top secret, we can reveal the gin is made from six traditional gin ingredients such as juniper and coriander seeds, with around 10 botanicals taken as much as possible from the forest.
But whatever is in it, it certainly impressed judge Andre Martins, who is head sommelier at St James’s Hotel and had high praise for the family gin.
He said: “To be worthy of an Ultra Premium tag, a gin has to have the ‘wow’ factor, and that was certainly present here.”
The Bonds enterprise – which also include seven-year-old daughter Hattie who forages for the botanicals – are now looking to get permanent premises for a micro-distillery somewhere near to the forest, which would include a visitor centre and tasting room.
Forest Gin, which also comes in a unique stoneware bottle designed by Suzy Taylor, is well supported by many Macclesfield pubs and restaurants and is available by the through Brewtique, Corks Out, and Portland Wine.
For further information go to forestgin.com.
