Slingsby Gin

Harrogate has a long history with the quality of its Tewit Well spring water, which was discovered in 1571 by William Slingsby. What could be better than bathing, playing, and drinking this age old natural remedy? Well using the water to make high quality gin of course.
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Named Slingsby after the well’s discoverer, this northern spirit is made in a hundred year old copper still in the London dry fashion, and uses Harrogate aquifer water, single grain spirit, and botanicals.

Talking of botanicals Slingsby features a mix of 24 different ingredients, 17 of which are sourced locally from Taylors of Harrogate (of tea fame) and local gardens. These include some interesting botanicals such as green and jasmine tea, severn sea rosemary, silver posie thyme, citrus thyme, garden thyme, rhubarb, sage, lovage, chervil, nettle and sweet cicely. The more global botanicals include rose hip, angelica, cassia, orris roots, coriander, liquorice grapefruit and Madagascan juniper.

The bottle itself is rather eye catching, being a rather stout, square bottle in a brilliant royal blue. It would certainly complement and bar shelf.

All very fancy I’m sure you’ll agree, but how does it stand up against the competition?

Fox's Tasting Notes
The initial sip is Like taking a plunge in a chilly Yorkshire stream, fresh, pure and invigorating. Followed by drying yourself with a smooth, citrus scented towel.

Slingsby Tasting Notes
Nose: Sweet cicely and a light green tea scented with jasmine blossom
Taste: An initial burst of refreshing rhubarb and citrus, before giving way to juniper
Finish: A very smooth herbaceous sweetness

Average Price: £39.99

Fox's Rating
7/10
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This isn’t a cheap gin, pushing against the £40 barrier it is in the higher end of the market compared to the competition, and the most expensive I’ve reviewed so far, Never the less it is nicely made, with a subtle citrus sweetness. The flavours aren' t as bold as other gins, being a touch vodka-like, but it's subtlety makes it versatile for cocktail blending and is refreshing mixed with tonic. Slingsby themselves recommend you have their G&T on ice with a twist of grapefruit, and blueberries – and who am I to argue with that!
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​The SilverFox