Simon Ford is one of the busiest guys I’ve ever met. He recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity. He has also in a previous life been Pernod-Ricard’s ambassador for Plymouth and Beefeater gins. So, it only makes sense that he decided to his own liquor company. What else could he possibly have to conquer?
Working with Master Distiller Charles Maxwell, Ford’s Gin at London at Thames Distillers, Fords Gin is a blend of nine botanicals steeped for fifteen hours before distillation in twin custom 500 liter stills named Tom Thumb and Thumbelina. The ingredients represent a virtual trip around the world with Italian juniper, Romanian coriander, Spanish lemon peel, bitter orange peel from Haiti and Morocco, grapefruit peel from Turkey, Angelica from Poland, Indonesian cassia, Jasmine from China and orris root from Italy and Morocco. The base spirit is distilled from English wheat while the water comes from Mendocino County in California.
Wow! I need a drink just thinking about all of that traveling!
Ford’s Gin (90 proof)
Visual: Crystal clear.
Nose: Hearty dose of juniper up front with a backbone of citrus and lighter herbs providing color. Very fresh and clean.
Taste: Lightly sweet, but with a transparency that allows the drier characteristics of the botanicals to shone through. Very much in the London Dry style with an excellent distillate holding everything together.
Finish: Dry, crisp and immensely satisfying.
Overall: What stands out for me in this gin is that no one aspect overwhelms or dominates. If anything, there is more of a floral character than citrus, but that’s debatable. Despite being a new gin, this can go head to head with old standbys like Beefeater and Tanqueray. Will work in anything from a G&T to a classic martini and everything in between. Do not hesitate to pick up a bottle!
GSN Rating: A
For more information go to: Ford’s Gin
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