Welsh gin granted UK GI
Produced in a biosphere in Wales, Dovey Native Botanical Gin has been granted a protected geographical indication (PGI) in the UK.
The UK’s Geographical Indication Scheme protects a product’s name, authenticity and characteristics.
Alongside the gin, Pembrokeshire rock oysters and Welsh heather honey were also given protected status, formally recognising their distinctive qualities and regional British heritage.
Dovey Native Botanical Gin – also called Pollination Gin – is produced at the Dyfi Distillery, which is based in a Unesco Biosphere Reserve near the village of Corris in Machynlleth, Wales.
The gin is made with a minimum of 17 botanicals sustainably foraged in the biosphere.
The distillery claims: “If we were just one valley away from where we are, it would taste quite different. The plant materials in the distillation are sustainably foraged from native species that are adapted to the Dyfi microclimate, topography and soil – it simply couldn’t come from anywhere else.”
The distillery registered for the PGI in May 2022.
Danny Cameron, who produces Dovey Native Botanical Gin with his brother Pete, said the status “helps to raise awareness of botanical gin being provenance-based and produced to such a strict and high quality”.
He continued: “Achieving a UK GI ultimately took five years of work, writing, and rewriting the product specification, having the distillate undergo independent testing and analysis to validate its uniqueness, and eventually navigating the verification process. But it’s been worth it, if for no other reason than to show that we produce something that tastes of where it comes from, and do so to the highest standards.”
The secretary of state for Wales Jo Stevens said: “Dovey gin, Pembrokeshire oysters and Welsh honey are fantastic products and it’s right they are being recognised as the high-quality, specialist items they are.
“The GI scheme guarantees quality and excellence while celebrating our outstanding local Welsh produce and driving growth in this vital sector.”
Alongside Pollination Dovey Native Botanical Gin, Dyfi Distillery has three other gins: Hibernation, Navigation and Original. Only Pollination meets the requirements for PGI status, however.
Huw Irranca-Davies, Wales’ deputy first minister, added: “This recognition strengthens Wales’ growing family of protected foods, showcases the extraordinary quality of our produce, and reflects our commitment to high-quality, sustainable food production.
“From the mountains to the coast, Wales produces some of the UK’s most iconic foods, cultivated with care and tradition. Each GI product tells the story of our landscape, our producers’ expertise and our proud culinary heritage.”
Pollination joins single malt Welsh whisky as a spirit from the region with protected status. The category was successfully registered on 24 July 2023.
After four years, English whisky has entered consultation for GI. The proposal, however, was described as “very damaging” by the Scotch Whisky Association.
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