New artisan gin for Newmarket 350th

Local distiller Dr. John Walters has marked the 350^th anniversary of horse racing at Newmarket by developing a new artisan gin – The Newmarket Gin.

The Newmarket Gin has been released to celebrate the 350th anniversary of horse racing at Newmarket

Based at the English Spirit Distillery, Walters looked to local botanicals for production. The recipe includes juniper, coriander and Seville oranges, plus locally sourced wild chives, Devil’s Dyke orchid petals and alfalfa that is fed to Newmarket’s Thoroughbred racehorses.

“We started by looking at the very best in the marketplace and identified areas where we could massively improve the offering,” he said.

“Taking the classic botanical juniper, we add a citrus surround to create a deliciously complex finish.

Our greatest challenge was looking at the wonderful local offering and incorporating this into the product to create a truly Newmarket Gin.”

Initially produced for the Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa in Newmarket, The Newmarket Gin is presented in a frosted bottle. The design, developed by London agency Nude Brand Creation, incorporates a binocular window through which racehorses are seen competing in one of the Newmarket ‘Classics’.

Each numbered bottle is sealed with a wooden stopper with a handmade leather collar in traditional Newmarket Tan, produced by local firm Gibson’s Saddlers. Stitch detailing and metal buttons echo the leather riding tack, which is then finished with a ribbon tag in Newmarket stripe.

The bottle also features a label reminiscent of a vintage betting strip, which carries Walter’s signature.

“This beautifully crafted gin, with its unique warmth and smooth flavour, is the perfect tribute to the historic town of Newmarket, steeped in the excitement and victory of the racecourse,” said Mike Kean, owner of Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa.

“It’s a purebred among new gins and will complement the collections and tastes of gin enthusiasts everywhere.”

The Newmarket Gin is available from Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa, and from Corney and Barrow in Newmarket, in two small-batch lines. A limited run of 350 Anniversary Newmarket Gin bottles have been released at an RRP of £85 for a 70cl bottle. A further 250 limited edition Squires Reserve Original Newmarket Gin bottles have also been launched, with an RRP of £70 for a 70cl bottle. Gift boxes including the 350 Anniversary Newmarket Gin and two Darlington crystal tumblers are available for £150 each.