The ultimate cocktail gin?

The team behind a new UK gin claims that its strength and flavour have been specially designed to make their product the ideal partner for cocktails.

Two Birds Cocktail Gin offers a 40% abv and “more intense juniper flavour” which, its creators promise, will not be diluted when mixed with other ingredients.

This gin, part of a craft distilling trend that can be seen on both sides of the Atlantic, marks the latest addition to the portfolio of Two Birds Spirits, which was founded last year in Leicestershire.

Using its copper still, “Gerard”, which was built by engineer and master distiller Mark Gamble, the company also produces London Dry Gin, English vodka and absinthe. All spirits are produced in small batches of 100 bottles at a time.

“Being independent craft distillers, we have the flexibility to experiment with new products and different flavour profiles as well as alcohol levels,” outlined Gamble.

“After discussions with friends working in the drinks industry we saw there was a gap in the market for a stronger gin but not at an over-proof level. So we set about to create the perfect gin for cocktails; using exactly the same botanicals used in our London Dry Gin but altering our distilling profile to bring out the individual flavours.”

In order to achieve this style, Gamble carries out a cold maceration of his botanicals before controlling the heat input in order to release the ingredients’ essential oils as gently as possible.

Two Birds Cocktail Gin is being targeted entirely at the on-trade and is available to buy direct from the distillery, either as a single bottle or in cases of six, with an RRP of £34.50 per bottle.