A revival of the first English gin recipe, redefining the origins of this quintessentially English spirit
Sipsmith, the pioneers of the modern craft gin movement, proudly announce the exclusive launch of Origin 1639 Gin, a uniquely limited edition gin that redefines the origins of this quintessentially English spirit. This exceptional release is rooted in a recipe from 1639, which proves that gin originated in England, not Holland as widely believed.
Sipsmith Origin 1639 Gin, launching in both the UK and Germany, is inspired by the first recipe to give birth to modern gin, found in the 1639 manual The Distiller of London. Sipsmith Master Distiller Jared Brown and his wife, drinks historian Anistatia Miller, discovered the slim volume and deciphered the 34 approved formulas and 16 variations, which were originally written in code to ‘protect their mysteries’.
One of these secret recipes produced a remarkably balanced spirit of juniper berry, citrus and spice, unlike any other they had ever tried. It is the closest ancestor found in print to a London Dry Gin. This discovery, published in their most recent book, A Most Noble Water: Revisiting the Origins of English Gin, proves that English gin’s origins lie in England.
As the leaders of the 21st-century Ginaissance, who changed the history of this iconic spirit by opening the first craft distillery in London in almost 200 years, it is no surprise that Sipsmith leapt at the chance to rewrite gin’s history in liquid form with Sipsmith Origin 1639 Gin.
It is a delicious, limited-edition gin, satisfyingly fragrant and true to its reported original recipe. Infused with raspberries and strawberries and then rested in oak barrels, the revival of this precious liquid emulates traditional, 17th-century production methods. The result, is a juniper-forward gin with bright berry notes and a spiced backbone. Gin, you might say, as it was originally gin-tended.
Sipsmith Master Distiller, Jared Brown says:
“We were thrilled to discover that the first recipe in the UK to combine juniper, citrus, and spice, the modern structure of gin, was published in 1639. Through meticulous research by myself and Anistatia Miller, this recipe proves that gin did, in fact, originate in England.We clamoured to get into the distillery to see if we could revive the recipe! For Sipsmith, the chance to write a whole new chapter in the story of gin by going back to its very inception? Nothing could be more exciting than that.”
Sipsmith Origin 1639 Gin is available from 16th September online directly from sipsmith.com , in selected stores nationwide including Harvey Nichols and Waitrose, with an RSP of £38.