Welcome To The Gin Ignite Podcast

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News

• Hello and Welcome to Episode 17. Today we are talking to Clare Ryan from the Edge Gin.
• Talk about her and Mikes magical brand. Where it came from.
• Merlin the Wizard
• London Dry, L’Orange and Pear gins

Small Gin September - third week.

• Please support this event. We have had Anfield Gin, The Wandering bartender and now we have Lava Spirits.
• I interviewed Laura in episode 11 for her launch day. It was amazing fun being involved in a launch.
• Looking forward to see how progresses during the week.
• Looking good so far.
• So a scoop from Vanessa. Would not tell me the distilleries but she has revealed there are not one but two more gin brands

The City of Aberdeen Distillery Signature Gin Vote

• Enjoyed my chat with Mark @the_wanderingbartender
• Got me chatting with City of Aberdeen distillery
• Deciding on their signature gin but not doing it alone
• No they are doing it in style and getting the people of Aberdeen and friends of the distillery. Plus it has the added accolade of becoming Aberdeen’s gin
• You order a box of 4 gins for £19.99 and you taste them neat and you taste them with your preferred tonic and you get a chance to vote.
• If you need more help you can tune in to their live tasting on Saturday at 15:00 at the Taste of Grampian event.
• If you are in Aberdeen it is in the Have a tipple tent. What a great name.
• Not around it is being recorded and will be available to watch.
• The gins are made from organic alcohol which costs twice as much but worth it for the taste
• The packs are sold for another week after this weeks event and you have to till the end of the month to vote.
• Such a great way to decide your signature gin
• Please support them
• https://cityofaberdeendistillery.co.uk/products/taste-and-vote

Weekly Gin Recommendation

• Weekly Gin Recommendation - Stranger and Sons Gin
• From the third eye distillery in Goa in India comes this gin based on a mythical beast with 3 eyes and 2 tails who came upon juniper berries hidden in a sari
• My hats off to co-founders Vidur, Sakshi and Rahul
• The nose is of a London dry but there is something fresh about it probably the lemons and something spicy I think perhaps the bergamot
• Taste very smooth. Initially sweet taste then the lemon and bergamot in the middle followed by juniper and a corriander bit at the end. The whole flavour I think is heightened with the black pepper.
• I was worried that all of these ingredients together would create a very spicy gin. They are all held to together in a beautiful flavour profile.
• I tried initially with Mediterranean tonic and this creates a very pleasant G&T.
• Due to its robustness I think there are not many tonics you could not throw at this gin but my favourite is not my beloved Mediterranean but Elderflower.
• This gin is certainly smooth enough for a dry martini although I think on balance I would prefer to us it in a whole host of other cocktails.
• It was my first gin from the Craft Gin club and I have to be honest if someone offered it to me I would probably pass. More fool me.

Clare Ryan from The Edge Gin

Meeting Mike and Cruise Ships

• Clare was the princess and Mike was the front end of the cow in an amateur dramatics production, which is how they met
• Clare plays violin and Mike plays guitar. They both sing.
• They were dating for a year and then Mike’s Dad organised their first gig in working mans club that he worked in
• Did two years of working mens clubs
• Then some theatre work with Hinge & Bracket / Ken Dodd
• Did showcase for Bookers for Cruise ships. Took them on and started on Fred Olsen Line
• Set sail for eighteen years at sea with various cruise companies
• Highlight for them was the travelling, local food / drinks and cultures

Why Alderley Edge ?

• Family history. Both Mum and Dad and Mum’s sister hung out there
• Lovely area
• Looking for somewhere nice to unpack case and setup home

Brand Idea

• Came from ‘The Edge’ which is a national trust area near to Alderley Edge
• All based on the legend of the wizard of Alderley Edge. 
• There is a Wizard pub and tea-room
• Love mythical history and fell in love with The Edge and the story of the wizard
• The legend of the wizard is such a lovely one
• Wizard of Alderley Edge is believed to Merlin
• Brand is playful with the legend
• Serious brand but with a bit of play on the legend
• Ties in with love of theatre

Brand Means To You

• Fulfillment, pleasure and happiness
• Love the myths and legend
• Fulfilling opportunity to produce something your love
• Had a photo shoot on The Edge. 
• Mike dressed up as the wizard. 
• Got a few funny looks by some dog walkers

How did you get into gin distilling ?

• Had not realised how big gin had grown until after arrived back in the UK after being away at sea
• Knew of quite a few craft distillers in Cheshire
• Really helped out by Mike’s best friend Paul Sheerin from  Defiance Distillery
• Invited to Defiance Distillery to see how it all worked and got the bug
• Thanks to Paul that got inspiration
• Then had to set themselves up.
• Not an easy process and spent a long time because HMRC lost their documents
• You can’t do anything until have the correct licences

How do make your gin ?

• Use neutral grain 96% alcohol
• Two stills Merlin and Arthur
• Starts 48 hours before distilling process
• Goji berries get soaked in neutral grain spirit and oranges for L’Orange
• Night before grind coriander seed and juniper berries
• Some botanicals ground in pestle and mortar and all put in muslin bags. Soaked goji berries added to bag
• Oranges discarded but dehydrated oranges added instead for L’Orange
• Goes under lid of still
• Vapour infusing via temperature control
• Takes about 8 hours
• Whilst waiting labelling bottles, putting gift boxes together. All by hand
• Switch off still and leave gin to settle over night.
• Reverse osmosis machine to purify water
• The gin is poured from the still into a large tank and the reverse osmosis is added
• Using alchometer and thermometer work out how much water to add
• Left for a few days because it takes time for gin and water to merge together
• If tried initially would have quite the bite
• Wait a few days and then bottle

How does time get divided between Clare and Mike ?

• Mike does a lot of behind the scenes stuff doing the paperwork etc
• In the distillery no real defined job. Share everything
• Clare does the front of house doing social media and events

The Gins !! Order of Production

London Dry Gin

• Produce first because signature gin. 
• Wanted to have nutritious gin. 
• Clare did a diploma in nutrition. 
• Wanted to have something in London Dry that had nutritional value. 
• Goji berries as signature botanical after the juniper.
• Delicate sweetness. 
• Aided in created smooth gin

L’Orange Gin

• Came about because a lot of requests from artisan markets. 
• Kept being asked for an orange gin. 
• Got recipe testing. 
• London dry base recipe. 
• Important to create an flavoursome orange, natural gin. 

Pear Gin

• Chose because different as not many out there. 
• Have pear trees in the garden. 
• Clare kept walking past and thought wouldn’t a pear gin be lovely. 
• No sugar or sweeteners. 
• Tried soaking pear fruit but did not give much flavour. 
• So use dehydrated pears

Perfects Serves / Cocktails

London Dry

• Serve with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic.
• Slice of orange or ruby grapefruit
• Sprig of rosemary as well. 
• Used dried lemon and orange peel so bring out citrus
• Lychee Martini

L’Orange

• Serve with Premium Light tonic such as Fever Tree Light
• Slice of Orange
• Try some basil
• Looks pretty and fragrant
• St Clements Martini
• The Alderley Orangetini
• Merlins Magic
• The Chester Grosvenor
• The Merlgin Rogers

Pear

• Perfect server Elderflower tonic
• If are not an Elderflower fan then premium light tonic or if not a tonic fan then sparkling waters such as apple and Elderflower
• Garnish with a slice of pear or pear sphere
• The Peartini Up

New Flavour

• Pink gin
• Fruits of the forest
• Not likely until next year when the distillery expands
• Would need additional still Guinevere

Markets

• Markets very important
• Market research in the markets
• Get gin out in front of the general public
• Very worthwhile
• Nice to meet everyone and customers
• Looking to expand eventually into supermarkets
• In Portland wines, Bargain Booze, local bars and farm shops
• List of local stockists are on the website

Contact

• Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook

What is your favourite gin, other than your own, and how would you serve it ?

• Like a free pour of Larios Gin in Spain by the beach
• With ice, Indian tonic and slice of lemon
• Side of bread and aioli

What does gin mean to you ?

• Brings happiness making gin and the drinking of
• Making other people happy
• Knowing that it is something that people enjoying
• People tag in photos
• Like the gin community and the way it brings people together

Gin Community Shout Out

• Old Bell Inn, Saddleworth village of Delph, 1258 gins commercially available and in Guiness Book of Records
• Taste of Grampian virtual festival 18-20th September https://www.tasteofgrampian.co.uk
• Vermacity UK sent round a post. Drink Responsibly. Don’t Spill It which made me laugh
• Admiring the new branding apron from The Only Way Is Gin. Can’t wait until you announce when your signature gin is coming !!!
• Leah Buckingham - 5 day Instagram challenge starting on Monday 28th September 2020. I did one a few months ago and it was really good. Just to click on the link in her bio @theleahbuckingham

Instagram Community Shout Out

• My Instagram shoutout this week is @ginscousegirl
• Mel thank you very much for liking some of my posts. It has not gone un-noticed
• Loved the lime gin and lemon and elderflower gin. Really loved the gorgeous plate underneath. Loved the story around Rome
• Ginsunset - loved this cocktail with gin, orange, lime, cranberry and pineapple juice.
• Loved the Rock Rose Gin with Bibite Polara Mandarino (tangerine) and the green vibe to the post
• Really loved Gin & elderflower fizz. I love Mermaid gin too !!! Not really put in cocktails. You have inspired me to try !!
• I really love your posts and how much effort you put into them. I also appreciate how down to earth they are which makes them a joy to read.
• Thank you again for your support and congratulations for being this weeks Instagram shoutout.

Get In Contact

• IM me at @ginignite Instagram or @ginignite on Twitter
• E-Mail me at [email protected]
• If you have ideas IM me or e-mail at [email protected]
• If you want to be on the show then IM me or e-mail me at [email protected]

Final Thought

• The thing that I like about the gin community that I have met so far is that no one judges anyone for what they believe, what they look like or who they choose to be.
• The world would be a better place if everyone took that view.
• Grab your drink, toast those you love, enjoy your weekend and whether your decide to party or stay in I will be with you in spirit !!!
• Seriously though enjoy your weekend and I look forward to joining you for another episode next Friday.
• Cheers