I first tried Mermaid Gin last summer at a small gin festival in the New Forest, the gin market continues to grow when many thought the gin bubble would of burst.
On a recent foodie visit to the Isle of Wight I called in at the Wishing Well in Seaview to see the Mermaid Bar and sample another of their gins.
The Isle of Wight Distillery is the first and only distillery on the island, first licensed in 2014 by Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett who both have backgrounds in the drinks industry. If gin isn't your thing then never fear the distillery also produces Whisky, Vodka and a Navy Strength barrel aged Gin and Rum
Isle of Wight Distillery have invested considerable time and money into their Mermaid Gin bottle design and it's clearly paying off. It really is a thing of beauty.
As a consumer visiting a drinking establishment or even in a retail outlet you can be faced with rows of this clear spirit and quite frankly it can be quite difficult to choose. I confess to having on more than one occasion being swayed by a pretty label or fancy packaging. This isn't just pretty packaging though it really is a lovely gin.
It contains a hand-crafted gin using ten ethically sourced botanicals - three of which are grown on the Island including - foraged Rock Samphire, Elderflower and Boadicea Hops.
SERVING SUGGESTION
Fill a glass with ice, a generous measure of Mermaid Gin and a splash of Fever -Tree tonic.
Simply garnish with juniper berries or a ribbon of cucumber and let the flavours shine through
All of Isle of Wight Distillery spirits can be ordered via their website or can be picked up at the airport from World Duty Free
Personally I get my gin from a lovely little shop in Christchurch, The Christchurch Confectioner and Gin shop. They stock every gin you can think of, a fantastic selection of chocolate and the owners are very knowledgeable about the products they sell.