It’s Always Gin O’Clock Somewhere
Northamptonshire based Warner’s Lemon Balm Gin received a gold medal at the coveted San Francisco World Spirits Competition last Tuesday (31st of March), impressively taking home its third gold in just nine months. The win, however, does not come to a surprise to gin connoisseurs. Warner’s is credited with creating the initial fervour around independent, organic, flavoured gin production in the UK (including the first pink rhubarb gin) – a trend that has taken the world by storm and spawned many successful brands.
Warners Lemon Balm Gin is made using hand-picked ingredients from five acres of gardens at the owner’s own Falls Farm distillery in the British Midlands. Their focus on ingredients comes through in the product, with its three core botanicals; lemon balm, lemon verbena and lemon thyme (all exclusively grown at the farm and distilled fresh, within an hour of harvest) paired with natural bee pollen (the farm has 22 beehives) giving the spirit a zesty, elegant, finish.
Tom’s top tips for growing lemon balm at home:
As a way to celebrate the gin’s recent accolades, founder and farmer Tom Warner is sending all of Warner’s home delivery customers a free packet of Lemon Balm seeds. He hopes customers will join him in his love for gardening whilst they are isolated by following his tips to plant window sill boxes at home:
- Now is a great time to be planting your seeds indoors and later this month can be sown directly outdoors
- It thrives in full sun to partial shade, needs only moderate watering, and prefers well-drained soil
- In the early summer, the leaves should be cut back, which will stimulate further growth. Cut back again after flowering to encourage new leaves to grow
- Pair the herb with Warner’s gin to create an amazing Lemon Balm Smash
- Use the leaves to garnish a G&T or try as an addition to a salad.
Warner’s hosts a Friday afternoon Instagram Live cocktail session every week, catch them on their for amazing recipes or on their website for their cocktail of the month.
After you’ve tried the Lemon Balm Smash try your hand at this month’s cocktail – The Lady Melissa
This is a slightly more complex gin sour that enhances the fresh botanicals from the Lemon Balm Gin. Quite classy and a really clean cocktail that’s perfect for a celebration.
Ingredients:
- 40ml Lemon Balm Gin
- 15ml lemon juice
- 15ml sugar syrup
- 10ml sherry vermouth
- 10ml Campari
- 3 dashes of lavender bitters
- egg white
Garnish:
Lavender and primrose
Glassware:
Nick and Nora
Method:
Add all the ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and shake really well (approximately 20 seconds). Fine strain into a pre-chilled coupette and garnish with lavender and primrose.
