Countdown’s Susie Dent creates tongue twister to make gin taste better

Lexicographer Susie Dent, who has appeared in ‘Dictionary Corner’ on the Channel 4 game show Countdown since 1992, has penned a tongue twister on behalf of Warner’s Distillery to enhance the flavour of its rhubarb gin.

Warner’s Distillery enlisted the Countdown etymologist’s help to make the tongue twister, theorising that it could enhance the taste of its rhubarb gin.

The tongue twister builds on an ongoing research partnership between Warner’s Distillery and the University of Nottingham to develop a better understanding of botanicals and distillation, and continually improve the taste of its gins.

Scientists at the Sensory Science Centre at the University of Nottingham use similar techniques when undertaking taste experiments with their trained expert tasters.

Dr Rebecca Ford, associate professor in Sensory and Consumer Science, explained: “We spend an eye watering amount of time training our expert taste panels to develop their vocabulary. This is because the ability to communicate what is being perceived is highly dependent on having the words to describe it. Giving people the vocabulary to interpret what they are sensing when they drink helps them put labels on specific tastes and flavours and improves taste detection and perception.

Countdown star Susie Dent was enlisted to create a tongue twister which would focus on the different flavour elements of Warner’s Rhubarb Gin, “designed to get drinkers to focus on its subtle flavours”, Ford added.

The tongue twister is three lines long and uses 27 different words and 40 syllables. The distillery claims that drinkers who say the tongue twister aloud before drinking will be psychologically primed for the ultimate tasting experience.

Susie Dent said of her new linguistic creation: “I’ve always been fascinated by the power of language, so it was amazing to learn that focusing on particular words can actually help to enhance the perception of taste. If people can say my tongue twister and learn to manifest ‘rhubarb’ without tripping up, they’ll find that their enjoyment of their tipple is made even more incredible – though it might be easier before your first glass.”

The full tongue twister reads:

Relish real rural rhubarb replete with rapturously ripe richness.
Pep up your palate with plump pink stalks passionately plucked.
Taste the tantalisingly tart tangy tingle of Warner’s tremendous tipple.

A video of Susie and the team at Warner’s Distillery attempting the tongue twister can be seen on the Warner’s Distillery website.