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Sipsmith replicates 1639 gin recipe
Suntory Global Spirits-owned brand Sipsmith has unveiled a new gin paying homage to the first English gin recipe from the 1600s.
Origin 1639 Gin is a limited edition that ‘redefines the origins of the quintessentially English spirit’.
The release is based on a recipe from 1639 manual The Distiller of London, which gave birth to modern gin. The recipe is believed to prove that gin originated in England, despite the common belief that it originated in Holland.
Sipsmith master distiller Jared Brown and his wife, drinks historian Anistatia Miller, discovered the slim volume and deciphered the 34 approved formulas and 16 variations, which were originally written in code to ‘protect their mysteries’.
One of these secret recipes produced a remarkably balanced spirit of juniper berry, citrus and spice, unlike any other they had ever tried. It is the closest ancestor of a London Dry Gin found in print.
The discovery, published in the couple’s most recent book, A Most Noble Water: Revisiting the Origins of English Gin, proves that English gin’s origins lie in England.
Sipsmith Distillery was the first gin distillery to open in London in almost 200 years and is credited with reviving the spirits category and the 21st-century ‘ginaissance’.
Jared Brown, master distiller of Sipsmith, said: “We were thrilled to discover that the first recipe in the UK to combine juniper, citrus, and spice, the modern structure of gin, was published in 1639. Through meticulous research by myself and Anistatia Miller, this recipe proves that gin did, in fact, originate in England.
“We clamoured to get into the distillery to see if we could revive the recipe. For Sipsmith, the chance to write a whole new chapter in the story of gin by going back to its very inception? Nothing could be more exciting than that.”
Sipsmith Origin 1639 is ‘satisfyingly fragrant’ and true to the original recipe. Infused with raspberries and strawberries and then rested in oak barrels, the revival of this precious liquid emulates traditional 17th-century production methods. The result is a juniper-forward gin with bright berry notes and a ‘spiced backbone’.
The limited edition is now available directly from the producer and in the UK in selected stores nationwide, including Harvey Nichols, John Lewis, Waitrose and Majestic. The expression is offered at 42% ABV and has a suggested retail price of £38 (US$50).
In addition to the UK market, Sipsmith Origin 1639 will also be available in Germany.
Earlier this year, the gin brand launched a limited edition created in collaboration with the winner of its inaugural cocktail competition.
In 2023, Sipsmith revealed its new sustainable bottle design, cutting its weight by 20%.
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