We teamed up with local distiller Still On The Move to create our own Boringdon Gin here on the grounds, using ‘Ginny,’ a restored 1973 VW Pickup turned mobile distillery. We spoke with Cosmo Caddy, founder of Devon Distillery, to learn more about the art of gin-making.
Tell us how Still On The Move came about
We wanted to find a way that we could get into gin making without actually creating our own gin, and be able to produce fantastic products for anyone that might like to have a gin made for them without them having to travel to a Distillery or build their own distillery or even leave the house!
Talk us through the gin creating process
Well it depends what sort of flavour you’re looking to bring to the fore. We start off with a fantastic neutral alcohol to which we add juniper and from then on we work with our clients helping to decide what’s going to work best for them and their clients or customers. For example, Boringdon Hall Hotel wanted to have a citrus gin that would work well for guests in the hotel and in the restaurant. Together we worked on a few options and then developed the fantastic citrusy gin that included the flesh of pink grapefruit that gives it a great, bright note.
Speaking of Boringdon Gin, what mixer and garnish would you recommend?
This particular gin has citrusy, bright notes, a gentle hint of elderflower and some light spice from cardamom and pink pepper corns. It serves brilliantly with a Fevertree tonic and a great garnish is pink grapefruit or rosemary sprigs if you like a savoury note.
Why do you think gin has become so popular?
Well, I think one of the key reasons gin has become as popular as it has in recent years is the sheer variety that can be included in its production. There have been all sorts of gins, from complex and light gins with numerous botanicals, to very simple gins with only a few botanicals, and flavours that range from very strong to more subtle notes. Additionally, the ability to produce gin and drink it almost immediately, without the need for aging or anything else, has made it easy for people to get into and try lots of different options quickly. There are so many different varieties available, and there’s almost guaranteed to be something to suit everyone’s palate, giving you an excuse to try plenty of options!
How important is location in choosing ingredients?
Location is one of the most fundamental factors that can influence the flavour of gin. Juniper from one part of the world may taste completely different from juniper grown in another region, with some being more waxy, piney, or resinous than others. Additionally, the climate where the gin is served can play a role in determining which notes to emphasise. In sunny South Devon, you might seek bright citrus notes in your spirits, while in cooler climates, you may prefer more spice or warming tones. As we are ‘Still on the Move,’ we have the flexibility to use locally foraged ingredients wherever we are. So, if there’s something growing in your botanical garden, we can incorporate that into our gin.
Are you still the UK’s only mobile distillery?
Ginny is still the UK’s only licensed mobile gin distillery and has travelled the length and breadth of the country. We’ve been down to Cornwall, up to Newcastle, and across to Kent, Sussex, and much of the Southeast. We love working in different locations, but staying close to home, like at Boringdon Hall, is fantastic, and we always look forward to going there whenever we can.
Desert Island Gins: Which 3 gins would you take with you?
Well choosing just three gins from the world selection is tricky. I personally would like to take the gin that I made for my wedding, as that has a lot of sentimental value and also tasted fantastic. Of course, Boringdon Hall gin was one of the earliest gins that we made and it has a fantastic flavour, so that’d almost certainly have to join the list. We would also take something that we didn’t make, and we really enjoy the fantastic gin from our friends at Silent Pool so I’d have to take a bottle of that as well!
What’s next for Still On The Move?
Ginny can be found all over the place, we pop up at food festivals with the team from Eat, we also have plans with the South Devon Railway so you might find Ginny making gin on the move whilst on a train in the coming months! We’ll find ourselves up and down the country helping people get inspired with their new gin flavours. You can find out where Ginny is by checking out the social media tag #WhereisGinny on Instagram or Facebook!
To find out more, visit Still On The Move
Instagram: @stillonthemove17
