Whitley Neill releases bacon and horseradish gin

Halewood Artisanal Spirits-owned Whitley Neill has unveiled a limited edition savoury gin.

The expression features unique, unexpected flavours of smoky bacon and a hot horseradish kick. Though it is made with natural flavouring, it does not contain bacon, so is suitable for vegetarians.

Poppy Williams, group marketing manager at Halewood Artisanal Spirits, said: “We’ve seen a big increase in the popularity of savoury flavours in the UK on-trade over the past couple of years, from Martinis made with Parmesan, aged in balsamic barrels or even infused with umami flavours of porcini mushrooms.

“As consumers continue to seek out these unique flavours, we’ve created this full-flavoured Smoky Bacon & Horseradish Gin to tap into this growing trend.”

Whitley Neill describes the gin as ‘perfect for elevating classic brunch cocktails such as the Red Snapper, mixed with tomato juice for a simple serve, or even adding a bold, savoury twist to a Martini’.

The release joins a rising trend of savoury spirits, including Portobello Road’s mushroom vodka. We predicted that savoury cocktails would be a key trend for 2024.

The brand has this month also released a Japanese Yuzu and White Strawberry Gin, with an ABV of 41.3% and an RRP of £30 (US$38) per 700ml bottle.

Williams continued: “Japanese flavours, from matcha and miso to yuzu and nashi, have seen a real surge in popularity over recent years.

“As a brand dedicated to exploring unique flavour combinations from global influences, we were inspired to see how we could incorporate these exciting flavours into our range.

“The pairing of yuzu and white strawberry is perfect balance of sweet and citrus, which we’re confident our customers will love. Plus, as with all Whitley Neill gins, it is extremely versatile, and can be enjoyed simply with a mixer or in a variety of cocktails.”

Founded by distiller Johnny Neill in 2005, the Whitley Neill brand dates back to 1762. Its home is in the award-winning City of London distillery.

Today, its range features more than 15 artisanal gins, including its flagship London Dry gin and other flavoured gins, such as rhubarb and ginger, and blood orange and raspberry flavours.

Bottled at 45% ABV, Whitley Neill Smoky Bacon and Horseradish Gin retails at £21.

Last year, the brand made headlines for hiding £25,000 (US$31,796) worth of diamonds in its bottles. The campaign was to ‘reignite’ the tradition of passing down heirlooms, after research revealed nearly half (42%) of UK adults don’t plan to leave one to family or friends.