Situated on the outskirts of Ryde, the distillery was founded by Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett in 2014. After initially laying down whisky barrels, the duo turned to gin distillation to tide them over until the whisky reached maturity. Amid the Covid-19 crisis, which has shut down the UK on-trade and dealt a blow to sales, the Isle of Wight Distillery has joined many other distilleries in switching production to hand sanitiser. Called Wight Wash, its sanitiser is being made available to people in need on the island.

By combining a wealth of experience in brewing and wine-making with locally sourced ingredients they have created a range of premium spirits that express the beauty and character of the Island they love. One of the co-founders who came up with the recipe wanted to use local botanicals if he could and all our spirits use botanicals from the island. Ultimately this is where we are, so why not use the abundance of ingredients that we have?We are the first and only distillery on the Isle of Wight and we definitely consider that to be more of a positive. We have had and continue to have a lot of support from the locals, and it is also making a bit of history,” she says. Whilst you visit the Mermaid bar take a tour ofthe distillery and discover how these spirits are produced. Our perfect serve suggests a pairing of Mermaid Gin with Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Indian Tonic. Serve with plenty of ice and garnish with a cucumber slice and a few juniper berries if you have them handy. Ginnie says, “We have nationwide distribution with Marks and Spencer and the Co-op, and we will be released in Tesco in mid-April. We work with all the usual suspects [in distribution] – Matthew Clarke, LWC Drinks, Nectar – so we are available nationally. We also work with Master of Malt and distribute directly through them online.

Three Mermaid Gin expressions from U.K. spirits producer Isle of Wight Distillery are now available in the U.S. The vast majority of our team is based on the island, but we do have a couple of sales teams on the mainland.” Inside the column still The only distillery on the Island was licensed in 2014 by long term friends Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett. This distillery provides a relaxing and comfortable bar area to enjoy a refreshing mermaid gin and tonic. The Mermaid bar provides the perfect place to enjoy the local produced spirits. Whilst you visit stay for a drink in the mermaid bar where you can enjoy a refreshing mermaid gin and tonic.

#Tasting Notes#

There is a micro-climate here as well which is really interesting. Particularly at Ventnor, on the south of the island, you get certain things growing which you would not get elsewhere.” A peek at the distillery Following its success in the U.K. and Europe, sea-inspired spirits brand Mermaid Gin has officially launched in the U.S., according to Food & Beverage Magazine . Xavier Baker, co-founder of the gin, said: “The brand has seen huge success in the UK and Europe and we hope to see it gain further momentum globally with the launch in the US. Mermaid gin is so smooth and enjoyable its seductive flavours can be enjoyed without drowning it in tonic.” We know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but this has to be one of the most visually arresting gins on the planet. In fact the International Wine and Spirits Competition revealed it as the winner of their Bottle Design Award 2019 making it officially the world's most beautiful gin bottle. But there’s more to this than meets the eye. So let’s dive a little deeper…

As well as Mermaid Gin, the Isle of Wight Distillery produces whisky, Mermaid Vodka and HMS Victory-branded Navy Strength Barrel Aged Gin and Rum. Now imagine trying to set up that distillery on an island, where miles of open water separate you from the nearest other landmass. Do you see the wave of potential logistical pitfalls rising in front of you, threatening to sweep you and your distillery dreams out to sea? We recommend just a few Juniper berries (as recommended by Mermaid Gin) with a cucumber twist to bridge some of the tones together. Could also be enjoyed in a Martini.

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Mermaid Gin is a joy to drink, its smooth and complex zesty taste works a treat as a highly refreshing and invigorating serve. As well as the gin, the bottle also makes this gin something which is quite special, especially to gin enthusiasts. The spirit range is hand-crafted in small batches and slow distilled before being cut with local spring water and bottled on the Island. The result is an award-winning range of spirits with a contemporary style, layered complexity and signature smooth delivery that brings this unique Island to life. The Isle of Wight’s Mermaid Gin has made quite a splash, not just in the UK but in markets around the world. Expressions now available in the U.S. include Mermaid Gin, Mermaid Pink Gin and Mermaid Zest Gin. E ach scale-patterned bottle of gin features a sustainably sourced natural cork stopper, compostable seal and biodegradable paper.

Being on an island we do have limitations in some things. Certainly at the moment we are facing challenges in transportation, but really it is fine. We have got a good network of distributors. We do have that stretch of water which makes travel a bit more difficult, but we have not found that it impedes us.” With gin sales volumes rising in the US, we feel this is a good time to be launching our gins to US customers and look forward to working with our distributors to grow the brand throughout the US in 2023.” In addition, the brand secured listings with luxury cruise operators Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises, which are both based in Miami, Florida. The all new Mermaid Gin makeover is a thing of beauty. Isle of Wight Distillery have rebranded their old bottle design and produced a new plastic-free, recyclable bottle, which is created to give a mermaid scales effect and the image of tropical shores and mythical mermaids. ABV: 42% Our strawberries for the Mermaid Pink Gin also grow on the island in the Arreton Valley: they’re the wonky kind that are not pretty enough for a cream tea.The gin itself has a very fresh, zesty taste with juniper notes followed through with more citrus overtones on the finish. It’s smooth yet complex, so doesn’t require much tonic to be enjoyed how it should be. Photo Credit: Mermaid Gin Mermaid Gin Tasting Notes Becoming B Corp means we meet (and must continue to meet) rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. To achieve this, we worked with our employees and customers to reach a high level of inclusion, and with our supply chain to achieve high levels of transparency and accountability. To stay certified, we’ll need to continuously improve our practices and we’re determined to do this.