Gin distillery opens at Gatwick Airport

The Restaurant Group and Gatwick Airport have opened what is thought to be the world’s first airport gin distillery.

Gatwick Airport and The Restaurant Group have opened what’s thought to be the world’s first airport gin distillery

Named The Nicholas Culpeper, the distillery produces up to 12 litres of gin per batch. The space also includes a shop and a bar, which serves food and cocktails.

The resulting The Nicholas Culpeper London Dry Gin is made from botanicals including Chinese cassia bark and Indian Angelica root.

Created by Matthew Servini, the distillery’s master of gin and an expert in 16th and 17th century recipes, The Nicholas Culpeper is modelled on traditional London dry gin recipes featuring botanicals from around the world.

Each bottle carries a batch number, production date, and the signature of the distiller that day.

Gatwick partnered with The Restaurant Group to open the distillery after seeing a “significant” jump in premium gin sales. In 2011, the segment accounted for 10% of total gin sales at the airport. Today the figure stands at 40%.

“We never really believed that it would be possible to distil gin in an airport,” said The Restaurant Group managing director Nick Ayerst.

“I really can’t wait to open the doors to our guests and see their reaction to this truly unique dining offering.”

Spencer Sheen, head of retail at Gatwick Airport added: “Our latest dining innovation, The Nicholas Culpeper, with its on-site gin distillery, continues our transformation of the in airport experience. This unique addition represents a diversification of the dining options available for our customers, challenging expectations of the quality and range on offer to enjoy at an airport.

“Our passengers are increasingly turning to more premium products and with the introduction of The Nicholas Culpeper, we have risen to the challenge, so our passengers’ holidays truly start in the airport.”

The distillery, shop and bar opens today (29 February) and is situated landside at Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal.

Nicholas Culpeper Gin retails at £25 for a 70cl bottle.