The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and East London Liquor Company have released Kew Gin. The offering is the first spirit as part of a six-year partnership between the Bow-located spirits brand and Richmond upon Thames gardens.
Created by East London Liquor Company head distiller Tom Hills, the Gin celebrates the plants and pollinators that allow botanicals to grow. It is bottled at 42% ABV and includes Douglas fir, lavender, orange peel, liquorice root and fennel seed among its ingredients.
“We were so inspired by Kew Gardens UNESCO World Heritage Site, and with their incredible team whose dedication to working with plants and pollinators really make our gin possible,” said Alex Wolpert, founder of East London Liquor Company “When creating this gin, we wanted to highlight some key botanicals which we sourced at Kew Gardens. Bright floral citrussy, the sweet orange and Douglas fir balances perfectly with the lavender – ideal for a wintry G&T garnished with an orange slice or sprig of rosemary from your garden.”
ELLC and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew announced their partnership in February of this year. Future launches are set to include ready-to-drink (RTD) options and additional spirits, details of which will be revealed in the coming months.
“After months of lockdown, the all new Kew Gin has finally arrived to make everything marginally more bearable,” said Quincy Leon, head of licensing at Royal Botanic Gardens. “The completely new formulation has been developed with our partner, East London Liquor Co.
“The key botanicals in the gin come directly from Kew Gardens, including Douglas fir, which has a wonderful piney flavour. With the addition of lavender and sweet orange, courtesy of our pollinator friends, who are celebrated on the vibrant packaging, the gin is a true flavour of Kew and its values.”
The Gin is available online via the East London Liquor Company and ELLC bottle shops, as well as through shop.kew.org and gift shops at Kew Gardens. It’s priced at £29.50 ($39 USD).
