British distiller East London Liquor Company has announced the launch of its pioneering barrel-aged gin programme for 2016.
Using new French oak barrels, the casks will impart the classic vanilla and dried fruit notes found in bourbon, while complementing and enhancing the botanicals of East London Liquor Company’s signature London dry gin, particularly its cardamom notes, the distillery said.
East London Liquor Company’s barrel-aged gin programme will roll out more than four experimental bottlings throughout the year, each with handwritten labels.
Inspired by the rich history of barrel-aging white spirits popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, the distillery is leading the charge this year by bringing spirits production and traditional techniques back to the historic distilling area in London’s East End. Oak was traditionally used in the transportation of spirits when glass and other breakable containers were thought to be too expensive. As the gin aged over the course of it’s journey, the spirit picked up the sweet, spiced vanilla qualities of the oak casks.
Distilled using 100% British wheat spirit infused with lemon and grapefruit peel, coriander, angelica root, juniper berries, cubeb berries and cardamom, the barrel-aged gin will use East London Liquor Company’s 40% ABV London Dry Gin as a base, before finally being aged in oak casks to impart additional flavour and colour. Available from 27 January 2016, with an ABV 15% higher than the brand’s hero London dry gin, the 55% ABV barrel-aged gin is sure to appeal to those with a love for white and brown spirits alike, the firm said.
East London Liquor Company founder Alex Wolpert said: “In the 18 months since we opened, we have worked continuously to produce honestly priced, innovative spirits for the UK, and the barrel-aged gin programme is no different. We are excited to launch this experimental range and look forward to releasing the results.”
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