“York needed a Gin”

Let summer beGIN with York Gin: The story of York’s local gin company

For York citizens, Summer has certainly arrived when you’re sat outside Revolution or Slug & Lettuce sunnies on, beside the river with a cold gin and tonic. When choosing a gin however, our taste buds will go down the classic route ending up with Hendrick’s or Gordons however, this summer I recommend drinking closer to home. How would you feel knowing your drinking a gin that has been designed, distilled, packaged and produced in York and is bespoke to the city?Then let The York Gin Company fill your glass. 

Since launching on the 1st March 2018, The York Gin Company have had a. brilliant year. Creating gins traditionally but with a quality that is far from any of the popular gins we see on the shelves today. York has really embraced a gin that represents the city and celebrates its ancient history. 

Visiting the distillery was an exciting experience and on such a gorgeous day in March, I was starting to feel a G&T could be a good idea. York Gin pitched up business in a small warehouse within York’s boundaries at the beginning of 2017 and after a year kitting it out it became not only a little factory for an array of beautifully handcrafted gins but a home for a new independent brand. For me personally, I found it extraordinary how such a small warehouse could hold so much equipment. From lined up empty bottles ready to be filled to full bottles boxed up ready to head off to the shops their system embodies how traditional and Yorkshire based they want to keep their products. Plus, with the smell of gin diffusing into the air, I was thinking how amazing it would be to work in an environment that smells that good every single day, however, not being able to drink the gin would be the tricky part!

I caught up with Emma Godivala, designer of the York Gin logo and gin enthusiast who runs the day to day flow of the company, about all things York Gin. First of all, it was clear that unlike myself she was extremely well educated about all things gin. “York needed a gin” she started by saying and wasn’t she right. It was apparent how passionate she was about the brand, what it stands for and where she works. She expressed the dedication her team had to piece together the company from the very beginning and develop it to where it stands today, which is proudly sat on the pedestals that are the York walls, “Everything’s a bit of a learning curve when you start, thinking what do we actually need, where do we get this from and where do we get that from.” 

 

A cocktail of amazing people makes up York Gin including four main directors, Emma, Harry, Pete and Paul who work so hard to run a solid gin company that is built upon quality and reliability. Depending on different times of the year when events are on their team becomes bigger and much more of a family. With one of the founders, Jon Farrow, sadly passing away just as York Gin was growing but Emma stated that he would’ve wanted them to continue and I’m sure he’d be proud to see what was originally an idea that came about after a few drinks around the pub table to what York Gin is now, which is a recognisable and well-established spirit. 

If your unfamiliar with the name, then the logo will definitely jolt your memory. It’s iconic. With Emma herself designing the logo it sums up York in such a minimalistic, simple way that people love it and recognise it instantly. The castle and cat combo dedicate themselves to the people of York and its history of gin. “When you talk to people and say tell me about York they always say and mention the castle walls”, the castle doesn’t represent just one part of the wall, but it is open to imagination. Some may consider it Clifford’s Tower, others a section of the wall they live near or even for some the wall in its entirety. Emma continued saying “Cats are quite tightly associated with gin and are often seen on top of the walls”. The history gin sets back thousands of years, but the hand-drawn picture of the black cat perched on the crenulations of the walls represents the history of selling gin as the usual procedure would be to put a coin in a cat’s mouth. 

York Gin is handmade via a traditional simple method which requires very little equipment however it’s clear that a lot of love and care is put into the gin to make it the best quality it can be. As Emma explained to me; “It’s not very difficult to set up, it’s like a huge chemistry experiment, heat, booze, botanicals and out it comes”. 

Made in 3-4 stages the botanicals are placed in 2 baskets with water and neat alcohol, the alcohol vapour then starts to rise taking in the flavours from the botanicals. With four unique names, York Gin have connected their flavours and bottles with the city. Starting off with the ‘Classic York Gin’, consisting of botanicals that would’ve been used three hundred years ago it’s both a traditional and balanced gin for a hot summer’s day. My personal favourite is ‘Roman Fruit’, a fruit infused gin that will make you want more from the first try. 

York’s important connection with the Romans and the fruits they brought to the British Isles are suffused in the ‘Roman Fruit’ bottle and with Yorkshire infusion that includes apples, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and hibiscus you really are drinking a fruity piece of history. 

York Gin ‘Cocoa’ has been well connected with York’s relation with chocolate making of course! Working with the York Cocoa Works, after the cocoa beans have been distilled, they return the cocoa nibs back to be reused to make chocolate. Successfully they have moved the cocoa empire into the gin world and the result is a refreshing drink with a rich punch of cocoa and for any alcohol or chocoholic this is the perfect combination. Moreover, ‘Cocoa’ won the bronze award at the World Gin awards this year and I think that is a standalone reason to give it a try! Finally, last but by far the least is York Gin’s ‘Outlaw’ and as the name suggests it’s the one with the most kick. 

Based around the villains of York, ‘Outlaw’ is a 57% gin that embodies baddies such as Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes and with its partnering tour entitled ‘The Bloody York Gin Tour’ their newest gin has made a notorious name for itself amidst the walls. For places such as The Dungeons, Jorvik Viking Centre and Evil Eye this gin mirrors York’s mischievous and criminal history.

York Gin bottles are scattered around one-third of pubs and restaurants in York and have become so popular they have extended beyond the castle walls to places such as Whitby, Malton, and even Harrogate. But to be honest with five awards and most likely more to come in the future it’s no wonder that York Gin has been able to grow and get their drink out across Yorkshire, ‘People want to try the local stuff!” Without their own individual store their business is thriving but this summer all could change…

Just to add to the excitement York Gin have settled into a new home for Summer 2019. The very distinguishable Sir Thomas Herbert’s House has been unveiled as York Gins location for their summer pop-up shop. Dating back to the 16th century the Tudor style building located on Pavement fits in perfectly with the aroma of York Gin whilst showing off a connection between the company and York’s property heritage. Open from 10am-6pm Monday to 

Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday’s I would expect the store to be busy, and I for one am ready to buy some more after my first try since my visit to the distillery. It truly is amazing how a single idea from some York locals can become a reality within 2 years, York Gin shows the importance of local businesses as well the succession of creating something that brings communities together and in York Gin’s case bringing people together over a good G&T. 

Continue the journey at: https://www.yorkgin.com