generations of experience. From the gin production itself, to the bottling and labelling, this is a hand-crafted gin in every sense, and one reflective of traditional methods. At the heart are their ingredients which provide a true reflection of Roman culture – the Romans were particularly influential in introducing us to a variety of botanical ingredients. Tyne Bank Brewery & Tap Room was founded by Julia Austin in 2011. Inspired by the different brewery in the West Coast of America, she decided to create her own distillery to brew beers and craft ales. Offering a wide array of beers with different taste and strength, you can certainly find the best one that will suit your distinct taste and style. They offer different beers that are available either in bottles, cans, casks and taps.

As an ancient city, York almost has it all, but five local friends are now providing the magic ingredient it’s been missing – a gin of its very own. After hatching their plan in the pub, they managed to move past the drawing-board stage to launch York Gin Company in summer 2017, and a distillery fully-equipped with a 300-litre copper still named Ebor, the shortened form of Eboracum, the Roman name for York. Made by the Northumberland Gin Company (not to be confused with Northumberland Spirit Co), Hexham Premier Cru Gin is its sole craft gin, with the owners choosing to concentrate on establishing that before expanding their range. It uses eight botanicals including orange, lemon and grapefruit - and there's a hint of licorice in there. Scott Wilson-Laing, founder and managing director of WL Distillery in County Durham, Picture: David Wood WL Distillery An excellent experience, Chris was the perfect guide and with his Mum’s help, they were the perfect hosts after the tour. A very comfortable atmosphere to try the different gins and to buy a bottle to take away.” – Geoff Everett Rare Bird Distillery At W.C Gin Closet, we take pride in curating an extensive collection of gins that cater to every palate. Whether you prefer classic London Dry gins or crave the bold flavours of contemporary botanical blends, our carefully selected range will mesmerise you. Our knowledgeable staff are passionate about gin and can guide you through the different profiles, suggesting perfect pairings and bespoke concoctions tailored to your preferences.

A tiny distillery in the Coquet Valley collects the wilds of nature and tames them into a spirit with big multi-layered flavours. The making of it is a journey which began in Walter Riddell's native Hepple in north Northumberland with the help of childhood friend - and now food writer - Valentine Warner. The Herbal Gin Company Limited is a brewery company that specialises in gin. Brewing high-quality spirits, they concoct special herbal gins that are flavourful and rich to the taste. Crafted to perfection, they want to share to the public the different gin product that they have. Using the finest ingredients from citrus, botanicals to raspberry, vanilla and other herbal mixes, you can certainly taste the difference that only they can deliver.

Add 25ml gin, 50ml Sloemotion, Sloe Gin, the juice of half a lemon and the juice of a quarter of a lime to a shaker filled with ice, shake, then strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Recommended serve: N/A but I liked the sound of ‘Sherbert Lemon’: 1oz gin, 1/2oz limoncello, 1/2oz lemon juice, dash bitters, bitter lemonade. Build over ice, stir and top with lemonade + lemon wheel. They say: “A nice warm savoury combination of pink peppercorns and celery seed rounded by a mix of traditional gin flavours like angelica and coriander, with late hints of cardamom. Distilled in small batches using the same smuggled ingredients including juniper, citrus and liquorice root, as well as local products including moorland heather flowers, honey and sugar kelp. They produce quality gin in a single pass of the still, it’s refreshing on the tongue, with a lasting finish symbolic of its origins in the North Sea – watch out for its After William Slingsby discovered the unique properties of the water held in the Tewit Well, he had a vision that was a little different – Slingsby sought to bottle the beauty and restorative nature of Harrogate. Containing only pure, natural, hand-grown local plants which seek to compliment the water, the spirit is expertly brought together in a 100-year- old copper still and is hand-finished in North Yorkshire.A beautifully well balanced and smooth-tasting gin boasting a delicate juniper flavour with citrusy notes. In one sip, you can identify crisp, fresh and sweet characteristics as well as smooth, warm and bitter notes. The Lakes Distillery created a world-class distillery ‘from scratch’ within a National Park – making what may seem like the impossible, possible. To produce spirits in the most environmentally-friendly way possible, they have adopted a distilling process with no waste and, wherever possible, they recycle water and heat. a vibrant citrus. Elderflower and damson variations cater for the flavoured gin craze, with their latest release – rhubarb and rosehip – providing a fruity yet floral flavour for a well-rounded drinking experience. For a glimpse of the excitement, see behind the scenes and take a tour of the working distillery – we’d recommend the one with extra tastings. Another small family business, producing great gin. This time specialising in a particular kind – gin infused with sloes and other hedgerow fruits. At Green Farm, they were proactive in maintaining the habitats of local wildlife and would allow fruit to develop as a source of food for birds and small mammals, before long, large amounts of fruits began to appear. And so, the idea of gin infused with the hedgerow fruits formed – and sloemotion was born.

In a balloon glass of ice, add 50ml of Newcastle Gin, squeeze and add a wedge of lime and a slice of lemon, before topping up with Fevertree premium Indian tonic water. Cooper King Distillery offers sustainable spirits that are created from a distillery that is 100% powered by green energy. Founded by Abbie and Chris in 2014, they distil the best gin and whisky that are crafted to perfection. Using local botanicals as their main ingredients, they ensure to create exceptional and flavoursome spirits that offer freshness and full rich flavour.As with all good things, patience is the key to Newcastle Gin. It takes over 72 hours to create a light floral gin using a combination of age-old distilling techniques, including maceration and vapour infusion through a 450-litre traditional copper pot still. They even use Newcastle City water to take down the final new spirit from 85 percent to a strong (but hearty) 43 percent. Distilled with nine botanicals, juniper, sumac, orange peel, hibiscus, rose petals, coriander and three secret ingredients that can’t be revealed.

Add 50ml Rhubarb and Rosehip Gin Liqueur, 20ml lemon juice, 10ml grenadine and 25ml cloudy apple juice to a shaker and dry shake without ice. Add ice to shaker and re-shake. Single strain into a glass filled with ice and garnish with an apple disc. The Modern Long Pink Gin: Add 50ml of Hexham Gin to a tall glass, half filled with ice. Add Angostura Bitters and top up with soda water. Add a twist of orange and stir.It’s been 37℃ this week so this went down like pop. I finished it with lemon but I do think even harsher pink grapefruit would have been great. Like this a lot! Ok not quite a spirit but an inspired mix which makes this tipple suitable at pretty much any time of day. And it's worth a mention as it has such a good story behind it. and 20ml sugar syrup, then strain into a highball glass over ice. Top up with soda and garnish with fresh grapefruit wedge and a sprig of tarragon.