As reported recently on The Write Taste, the gin bubble hasn't quite burst. There remain plenty of craft gin distilleries in the UK ready to woo new customers. One relative newcomer to the scene which is seeing continuing growth and success is Padstow Distilling, producer of award-winning Padstow Gin.
Padstow Distilling is a small-batch spirits distillery, established in 2018, in the foodie-famous town of the same name on the north Cornish coast. As Padstow Wine Company, they made their first gin in 2019, before developing their original barley-based recipes and grew to become Padstow Distilling.
Foraging local plants
Founder and head distiller, David McWilliam, is proud to use high quality local ingredients, grown and foraged in Cornwall. These include Alexanders (aka alisander), an ancient plant that grows along coastal paths in Cornwall. An aromatic Mediterranean herb with a celery-like flavour, Alexanders has been used for food and medicine since Roman times.
McWilliam's deep-rooted love of Cornwall and passion for the discovery of new flavours has led him to create a distinctive range of spirits rooted in local culture and which reflect the beauty of the region.
Rather than buying it in, even the NGS (neutral grain spirit) for all Padstow Distilling' gins and vodkas, is made in-house from locally sourced Cornish barley, grown at Tregirls Farm in Padstow. The barley fields in this scenic location overlook the Camel Estuary above the beach at St George's Well, on the western side, swept daily by ocean breezes and covered in salty sea mist.
Stems of Alexanders
To make the gins, the NGS is infused with a selection of botanicals and distilled to around 80% ABV in 200L alembic copper pot stills at Colwith Farm near Lostwithiel in South Cornwall. They are then diluted with water from the aquifer on the farm.
The original 'St George's Well' and rose-scented 'Hawker's Cove' are both bottled at 42% ABV, while the Navy Strength 'Stepper Point' is bottled at 57% ABV.
Juniper berries are blended with coriander seeds, citrus peel and hand-picked Alexanders foraged from the cliffs above St. George's Well. Other botanicals are added, depending on the style of gin.
A former wine merchant, McWilliam's ambition was always that the distillery would become a key part of the Padstow experience and an unmissable destination for wine, spirit and cocktail lovers visiting the area. With a growing business, a range of award-winning gins and vodka, a busy shop and wine/cocktail bar located in the heart of Padstow, his ambition has become a reality. The team also run guided walks from here along the Camel Estuary.
Padstow Distilling has quickly garnered global recognition, with several prestigious awards, including at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and IWSC . For example, Padstow Vodka 'Gun Point' won Gold and 95 points at the IWSC 2024, while Padstow Gin 'St George's Well' gained Silver and 91 points. Bronze awards were given to Padstow Gin 'Hawker's Cove' Rose and Padstow Gin 'Stepper Point' Navy in the same competition.
The original Padstow Gin 'St George's Well' is made in a London Dry style.
Colour: Clear.
Nose: Piney juniper-led with hints of salty sea breeze, samphire and lemon.
Palate: Notes of salt water, juniper, pine and bay leaves with a touch of lemon balm and lemon zest.
A premium light tonic, such as from Franklin & Sons, will really bring out the fresh flavours of this gin, emphasising the juniper and citrus, especially when simply garnished with a slice of lemon. However, the savoury edge of this gin makes it a great base for a Dirty Martini too.
The rose gin has been developed from the petals and rosehips of the Rosa Rugosa which grows wildly along the coast.
Colour: Attractive light pink.
Nose: Notes of rose and lemon with floral tones of juniper and thyme plus a fruity edge similar to raspberry.
Palate: Juniper, lemon, herbs, rose and a light touch of pink peppercorns, with delicate floral tones lingering in the background from start to finish.
This is an elegant style of pink gin. A plain tonic highlights the rose, juniper and citrus notes, while a flavoured tonic, like Marlish Raspberry Tonic, will add an extra fruity and aromatic dimension. Franklin & Sons Premium Light Tonic also brings out the subtle rose florality in a refined way.
Both these gins are perfect for a selection of cocktails. One popular choice at the distillery's bar in Padstow is 'The Rose 17', which you can easily create at home with the right ingredients. David McWilliam recommends using chilled Simonsig Satin Nectar Rosé, a rich and fruity Demi-Sec Cap Classique sparkling wine from South Africa. This sweet style of traditional method rosé fizz perfectly complements the frozen Padstow Rose Gin with its delicate spice of pink peppercorns and the decadent scent of roses, but of course you can use other sparkling wines instead.
Prices per 70cl bottle are £40 for Padstow Vodka, £48 for Padstow Gin Original and Padstow Gin Rose and £60 for Padstow Navy Gin. Additionally, there are 50cl Limited Edition runs of Spiced Cranberry and Orange Gin and Sloe Gin available for £38. Other products include Padstow Vodka, Padstow Rum and flavoured varieties of each. You can buy bottles online from the company's webshop, or at the bottle shop and bar at 17 Duke Street, Padstow.
