Sam Galsworthy led a Sipsmith Gin masterclass at the Hazy Rose in Sydney where he explained the passion behind the craft and introduced the range of Sipsmith spirits.
Sipsmith Gin with Sam Galsworthy – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Sipsmith is the first copper-pot based distillery to start up in London after nearly 200 years. Established in 2009, founders Sam Galsworthy, Fairfax Hall, and master distiller, Jared Brown have set out to produce a London style gin that celebrates the artistry of distillation.
The name Sipsmith was chosen to denote a craft, Sam Galsworthy explains. From the small batch production right down to “Prudence”, the 300L copper pot still made in Southern Germany by an artisan family, it is the passion for handmade spirits and celebration of the craft of distillation that gives Sipsmith its advantage.
Sipsmith Gin is a classic style gin made using ten classic botanicals: Macedonian juniper berries, Bulgarian coriander seed, French angelica root, Spanish liquorice root, Italian orris root, Spanish ground almond, Chinese cassia bark, Madagascan cinnamon, Sevillian orange peel and Spanish lemon peel. The gin undergoes a 5-hour maceration process with botanicals and us a one shot distillation method, which involves distilling the botanicals with the spirit instead of adding a blend to the spirit.
Sipsmith Gin has a good viscosity in the glass. On the palate, it has a rich mouthfeel with a flavour of pronounced juniper, floral notes on the mid-palate with citrus notes and a hint of liquorice. Every bottle has a batch number which you can trace to the date when it was made. A warming, well-rounded gin that goes well in a G&T and a Martini.
Sipsmith Barley Vodka is made distilling English barley spirit and carefully blending it with the pure water of Lydwell Spring. The vodka has a creamy mouthfeel, with subtle buttery notes and a light, nutty finish.
Sipsmith Summer Cup is a style of drink dating back to the 1800s. The drink was launched in May 2012 in England and is based on Sipsmith Gin, blended with summery ingredients including infusions of Earl Grey tea, lemon verbena and cucumber. Summer Cup has juniper and citrus notes on the palate, spices with a refreshing dry finish which makes it an ideal cool summer drink.
This article was originally published on October 29, 2012 on our sister website Gourmantic.
