Sacred Spirits

Last updated

Sacred Spirits
TypePrivate
Industry microdistillery & Distillation
Founded2009
FounderIan Hart and Hilary Whitney
Headquarters London
Area served
Worldwide
Products Gin Vodka Exotic Distillates
Website sacredgin.com

Sacred Spirits (previously known as Sacred Microdistillery) is a microdistillery in Highgate, London. It distills its spirits under a vacuum in glassware, and thus at a lower temperature than traditional pot stills, which operate at atmospheric pressure. The microdistillery operates out of the back room of a residential house, with a vacuum plant in a wendy house in the distiller's back garden. It is an authorised Customs and Excise distillery.

Contents

History

Sacred Spirits was established in London in 2009 and is the only vacuum distillery in London. [1] Sipsmith Distillery in Hammersmith started at a similar time, but they use an atmospheric pressure copper pot technique. Sacred Spirits (originally named Sacred Microdistillery) was launched by Ian Hart [2] and Hilary Whitney initially as a pure Gin distillery, but now produce flavoured vodkas using the same process.

Ian Hart, who had previously worked as a Wall Street banker, was laid off in 2008. [3] After his layoff, he began to conduct tests on the production of gin starting in September 2008. [3] [4] After conducting 23 gin-making experiments, he made the initial batch of Sacred Gin on May 22, 2009, and founded Sacred Spirits. [3] The recipe, which had 12 botanicals including juniper, cardamom, nutmeg, and Boswellia sacra , had a "fresh, creamy and aromatic quality" according to Tina Brown in her book Gin: An Illustrated History. [4] Sacred Gin received a Double Gold Medal during the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. [3] Eric Grossman wrote in his book Craft Spirits that "Sacred has turned gin on its head by favoring vacuum distillation instead of traditional pot distillation". [3] The distillery is in Highgate, North London in Ian Hart's house. [4] [5] His wife, Hilary Whitney, operates the company with him. [3] People from 17 countries purchased 34,000 bottles of gin from the company in 2014. [6] Sacred Spirits also has created vodka, whisky, vermouth, and negroni products. [4]

Sacred Microdistillery is based on a residential street in North London. [7] It distributes its products to over 50 bars and restaurants in North and Central London, [8] This includes Duke's Bar in St James's, where Ian Fleming invented the Vesper cocktail. [9] It is also stocked by Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly, and Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire, [1] and Gerry's of Old Compton Street.

Hart started on a small scale, and personally delivered stock to local bars and restaurants on London's tubes and buses [10] before acquiring an on-trade distributor, Coe Vintners. [8]

Products

Sacred Microdistillery's first two spirits are Sacred Vodka and Sacred Gin, both of which are produced in small batches of a few hundred bottles a time, from English Grain Spirit. Each batch is made with two or three fractions: the initial one is collected under glass coils cooled with iced water (about 0 °C), the middle is collected under a cold finger cooled to -89 °C with dry ice (solid CO2), and the final fraction is collected under liquid nitrogen under a cold finger at -196 °C. [11] The separately distilled botanicals therefore produce 2-3 fractions each, which are blended as the final part of the process. [12]

Sacred Gin is 40% ABV. It uses 12 botanicals including: Juniper, Angelica Root, Fresh Orange Peel, Fresh Lemon Peel and Fresh Lime Peel, Cardamom. [13] and Frankincense.

Sacred Vodka is 40% ABV. It is a wholly redistilled flavoured vodka using 7 botanicals including: Cubeb, Angelica Root, Nutmeg, and Frankincense.

Reception

In his book, Craft Spirits, Eric Grossman praised Sacred Gin for being "a beautifully balanced spirit". [3] Writing in his book The Book of Gin about Sacred Gin, Richard Barnett said, "there's a remarkable clarity and intensity of flavor here, balanced with a fragrant creaminess" and "this is a gin which can be nosed and sipped like a good wine". [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gin</span> Distilled alcoholic drink flavoured with juniper

Gin is a distilled alcoholic drink that derives its flavour from juniper berries and other botanical ingredients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martini (cocktail)</span> Cocktail made with gin and vermouth

The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Over the years, the martini has become one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages. A popular variation, the vodka martini, uses vodka instead of gin for the cocktail's base spirit.

Gordon's is a brand of London dry gin first produced in 1769. The top markets for Gordon's are the United Kingdom, the United States and Greece. It is owned by the British spirits company Diageo. It is the world's best-selling London dry gin. Gordon's has been the UK's number one gin since the late 19th century. A 40% ABV version for the North American market is distilled in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beefeater Gin</span> Brand of gin

Beefeater Gin is a brand of gin owned by Pernod Ricard and bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom. Beefeater remained in the control of its founding Burrough family until 1987. It is a 47% or 44% alcohol product in the US, and a 40% alcohol product elsewhere in the world. The Beefeater distillery is one of 24 in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microdistillery</span>

A microdistillery is a small, often boutique-style distillery established to produce beverage grade spirit alcohol in relatively small quantities, usually done in single batches. While the term is most commonly used in the United States, micro-distilleries have been established in Europe for many years, either as small cognac distilleries supplying the larger cognac houses, or as distilleries of single malt whisky originally produced for the blended Scotch whisky market, but whose products are now sold as niche single malt brands. The more recent development of micro-distilleries can now also be seen in locations as diverse as London, Switzerland, and South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boodles British Gin</span>

Boodles British Gin is a brand of gin bottled and distributed in the United Kingdom by Proximo Spirits.

Leopold Bros. is a family-owned and operated distillery located in Denver, Colorado. They are well known as an independent distillery that floor malts, mills, mashes, and ferments all the grains in their spirits, as well as distills, ages, and bottles their entire portfolio at their one and only distillery in northeast Denver. They currently have the largest traditional floor malting room of any distillery in the United States, where they malt Colorado barley onsite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sipsmith</span>

Sipsmith is a microdistillery located in London. It is the first copper-pot distillery to open within Greater London' in nearly two centuries. It has been a subsidiary of Beam Suntory since December 2016.

Distilleries in Canada are distillers of various alcoholic distilled beverages (spirits) such as whisky, rum, vodka, brandy, gin, etc. in the country of Canada.

Chase Vodka is a single estate potato vodka made in Herefordshire, England, UK by William Chase, who is also known for founding Tyrrells crisps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hangar 1 Vodka</span> American vodka brand

Hangar 1 Vodka is a vodka brand produced by The Hangar 1 Distillery in Alameda, California. In addition to vodka, the distillery also produces spirits, some of which were formerly produced by St. George Spirits. The brand is owned and distributed by Proximo Spirits of Jersey City, New Jersey, and is available as a straight vodka as well as in a variety of flavors.

Long Island Spirits is a microdistillery in Baiting Hollow, New York. Founded in 2007, it is the first craft distillery on Long Island since the 1800s. Surrounded by 5,000 acres of potato farms, Long Island Spirits is a full farm-to-bottle hand craft distillery operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The London Distillery Company</span> Distillery in London

The London Distillery Company, also known as TLDC, was a distillery based in Bermondsey, London. Originally located in Battersea TLDC produced English whisky, Rye whisky, London gin and British spirits, compounds and cordials. TLDC also created experimental spirits under the TESTBED brand; named after the art space of similar ethos by architect Will Alsop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Distilling</span>

Philadelphia Distilling is a microdistillery founded in March 2005 in the Byberry neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the first craft distillery to open in Pennsylvania since before Prohibition.

Jersey Spirits Distilling Company is a craft distillery located in Fairfield Township, Essex County, New Jersey, one of a handful of distilleries in New Jersey. Co-founders John Granata and Susan Lord together with Elizabeth MacDonald became licensed during the summer of 2015 and opened in August 2015.

Stark Spirits Distillery is an artisan distillery in Pasadena, California, that produces a range of alcoholic beverages under the direction of Head Distiller Greg Stark. The microdistillery is owned by husband and wife, Greg Stark and Karen Robinson-Stark. It is Pasadena's first microdistillery. Stark Spirits is a Certified Craft Distillery, certified by the American Distilling Institute. The Pasadena microdistillery is known for producing hand-crafted small batches of whiskey, rum, gin, and brandy. Stark Spirits Distillery also offers in-person tours allowing people to get an intimate experience with their spirits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manatawny Still Works</span>

Manatawny Still Works is a maker of American whiskey, rum, and gin. It is produced in Pottstown, Pennsylvania along the bank of the Manatawny Creek.

Chase Distillery, Ltd. was a British single-estate distillery based in Herefordshire, United Kingdom. William Chase, the former owner and founder of Tyrrells crisps, founded the family-run business in 2008. Using ingredients sourced on-site at Rosemaund Farm, the distillery focuses its production on potato vodka, gin and cider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watershed Distillery</span>

Watershed Distillery is a microdistillery in Columbus, Ohio founded in 2010 by business partners Greg Lehman and Dave Rigo. The distillery was the second distillery opened in Central Ohio after prohibition, and Watershed brought to market the first legally distilled bourbon whiskey in Central Ohio post-prohibition in 2012. The distillery offers tours to the public and was the first distillery in Ohio to open a restaurant on-site in February 2017, following the passage of Ohio House Bill 351 in 2016. The distillery offers six spirits: vodka, two types of American style gin, bourbon, nocino and a bottled Old Fashioned cocktail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caledonia Spirits</span> Distillery in Monteplier, Vermont (e. 2011)

Caledonia Spirits is a craft distillery in Montpelier, Vermont. The distillery is known for its Barr Hill-brand spirits, including gin, vodka, and an Old Tom gin called Tom Cat. The company's flagship product is its Barr Hill Gin, which is the top-selling Vermont-made spirit and the most awarded gin made in the US.

References

  1. 1 2 Gerrard, Neil (5 February 2010). "The Still Life" (PDF). Caterer and Hotelkeeper . Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  2. ↑ "Life after the City: Ian Hart". eFinancialNews. 11 January 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Grossman, Eric (2016). Craft Spirits: Know the Makers, Infuse Your Own, Create New Cocktails. New York: Penguin Random House. pp. 70–71. ISBN   978-1-4654-4384-7 . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Tina (2018). Gin: An Illustrated History. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4456-8006-4 . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  5. ↑ Knoll, Aaron (2015). Gin: The Art and Craft of the Artisan Revival. London: Jacqui Small. The Quarto Group. ISBN   978-1-910254-43-1 . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  6. ↑ Stephenson, Tristan (2016). The Curious Bartender's Gin Palace. London: Ryland Peters & Small. ISBN   978-1-84975-701-0 . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "Urban foodie visits Sacred Microdistillery". Urban foodie. 6 December 2009. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  8. 1 2 "List of bars and restaurants serving Sacred Spirits". Sacred Spirits Company. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  9. ↑ "Small is Beautiful: Sacred Gin" (PDF). Imbibe. November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  10. ↑ Culshaw, Jenny (30 July 2009). "New gin distilleries for London". BBC . Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  11. ↑ "Making mother's ruin 2.0". Wired . November 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  12. ↑ Purves, Nick (9 January 2010). "Sacred Gin". The London Word. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  13. ↑ Culshaw, Jenny. "BBC's Jenny Culshaw visits Sacred Gin Microdistillery for Working Lunch" (YouTube video). Working Lunch . BBC. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  14. ↑ Barnett, Richard (2011). The Book of Gin: A Spirited History from Alchemists' Stills and Colonial Outposts to Gin Palaces, Bathtub Gin, and Artisanal Cocktails. New York: Grove Atlantic. ISBN   978-0-8021-9409-1 . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.