Diageo creates ‘savoury’ Tanqueray Lovage

Diageo has unveiled Tanqueray Lovage – an expression made with garden herb lovage and inspired by a historical recipe from the brand’s founder, Charles Tanqueray.

Tanqueray Lovage was inspired by a recipe created by the brand’s founder, Charles Tanqueray, in 1832

Inspired by an original recipe created by Tanqueray in 1832, the new expression is a “savoury twist” on the classic Tanqueray expression, thanks to the addition of English garden herb, lovage.

Created with the help of world-renowned bartender Jason Crawley, Tanqueray Lovage is described as “deeply herbaceous, celery-like and earthy, whilst retaining that signature juniper-citrus forward style”.

Crawley said: “It has been really special working on this historical Charles Tanqueray recipe and it’s been interesting transforming his work into a modern day liquid. It’s been quite a humbling experience for me.”

The new expression is said to be the first gin created with lovage, which presented its own challenges for the Tanqueray distillers.

“We had to work a lot harder on the distilling process, because at first it came through a bit soupy,” explained Crawley. “We had to practice, adding a little bit more this and a little bit more that. We looked at it a bit like a graphic equaliser – we had all the key parts of Tanqueray, but we turned up the bass a little, turned up the treble and dropped down the middle section. It was all a case of tweaking it.”

Around 100,000 bottles of Tanqueray Lovage will be released across Europe, Taiwan and Hong Kong, each bottled at 47.3% abv.

Tanqueray’s global marketing manager, Joanna Segesser, said: “Innovation is at the heart of everything Tanqueray does. Just like our founder, Charles Tanqueray, we love experimenting and working with new botanicals, so it’s a pleasure to see one of Charles’ original recipes being created at a time where savoury cocktails are on the rise.”

Tanqueray Lovage carries an RRP of £44 (US$58.75) per one-litre bottle.