A gin for all seasons
- Hannah Tapping
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Words by Hannah Tapping
Distilled at the water’s edge with a passion for exceptional spirits.
The first page of Salcombe Gin’s story was turned in 2014. Two sailing instructors, Angus Lugsdin and Howard Davies, who had met while working at Salcombe’s Island Cruising Club in 1995, shared a love for the ocean and a mutual appreciation of gin. A G&T would often be enjoyed together after a busy day on the water, and the talk would turn to the dream of producing their own world-class spirit. Chapter two of this distilling tale saw Angus and Howard take steps towards realising their dream. Time spent learning their craft, first at the iconic Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown for Angus and then at Kilchoman Distillery on the Isle of Islay for both Angus and Howard, helped them to understand the fundamentals of distillation. On returning to Devon, they bought their first still, a miniature 2.5 litre copper pot still, identical to the ones used in their gin school today.
Angus and Howard wanted to produce a complex gin, one that would span a wide spectrum of flavour. It had to be citrus-forward – harnessing the essence of the locally built 19th-century Salcombe Fruiters that plied their trade along exotic trading routes bringing exotic fruits into Devon from the Azores – while also nodding to floral notes, spices and herbs giving an underlying earthiness. Tasting fresh botanicals was an important part of the process and each day they would distil up to five recipes which they would then blind taste at the end of the day. They invited a ‘gin committee’ made up of friends, family and those in the trade to tasting sessions and after 18 months of many iterations, a leading industry expert said to them after a tasting, “what are you waiting for?” and so they launched.
Three key values which frame the business are perhaps why it has been so successful. Passion comes first and permeates throughout everything that Angus, Howard and the Salcombe team do. Integrity comes next; all the gin is distilled in Salcombe, right by the water’s edge. Finally, there’s quality and attention to detail. The pair openly admit that this is something which can make the process more challenging but it’s what they live by and can be seen from the name, to the bottle, to the serve.
Over a period of two years which included building the distillery and endless recipe development, the pair released their first gin: Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point’, named after Devon’s most southerly peninsula. Its recipe includes classic juniper, fresh red grapefruit and 11 other hand-picked botanicals. It’s as delicious as a sipping gin simply poured over ice as it is served with a good quality tonic… the addition of a slice of red grapefruit elevating the occasion. It received several accolades within its first year of production, not least of which was Gold at the World Gin Awards and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. True to their love of the ocean, 1% of every bottle of Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point’ sold is donated to the Marine Conservation Society to help protect and regenerate precious ocean habitats.
The Salcombe Gin family has grown year on year, each new recipe undergoing the same attention to detail as the first. Award-winning Salcombe Gin ‘Rosé Sainte Marie’, is a Mediterranean dry rosé gin with no added sugar. It features delicate flavours of fresh lemon peel, Provence herbs, pink peppercorns and sun-drenched strawberries. It’s named after the iconic Sainte Marie lighthouse, marking the southern entrance to the Old Port of Marseille, from where 19th-century Salcombe Fruit Schooners loaded citrus fruits and herbs bound for England’s ports.
The Voyager Series is a collection of limited-edition gins, each developed in collaboration with a world-renowned chef or iconic winemaker, intended to reflect their individual personality and style. Daring, produced in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth, evokes a sense of the sea inspired by the oyster dish, A Tale of Porthilly, served at Paul Ainsworth at No6 in Padstow. Padstow was once a thriving port and Daring is aptly named after one of its merchant ships that transported spices all over the world. Other special releases include: ‘Four Seas’ by Salcombe Gin, from which 2% of net sales are donated to the RNLI; Marabelle Gin, created in partnership with P&O and distilled on board the world’s first two distilleries at sea; and a brace of small-batch rum that is no sooner produced than sells out.
You’ll find Salcombe Gin’s brand home and gin school in a toes-in-the-water position on Island Street. Once the home to the Island Cruising Club boatyard, it feels like the tale has come full circle. Named the Boathouse in honour of its heritage, the building now houses Salcombe Gin’s beautiful 450-litre copper still named Provident after the Cruising Club’s classic Brixham trawler, a cherished part of their fleet. Where better to discover the art of distillation for yourself? Award-winning Salcombe Gin School offers the opportunity to learn the art of gin distillation in this stunning waterside location. Under the guidance of Salcombe Gin’s expert distillers, you’ll take charge of a beautiful mini copper pot still to develop, distil, bottle and label your own 70cl bottle of gin, which you get to take home in a wooden presentation box as a perfect memento of the day.
For the discerning gin lover, an extraordinary new experience from Salcombe Gin is set to turn the tables on the luxury spirits market. The Salcombe Gin Beach Butler is an exclusive service where guests are invited to enjoy unlimited and expertly crafted cocktails delivered directly to their chosen coastal location, providing a rare opportunity to savour award-winning gin in some of the South West’s most picturesque surroundings. The service begins with a refreshing signature-serve, Salcombe & Tonic, followed by a choice of unlimited cocktails from a carefully curated cocktail menu. Simply choose a time and location and the Salcombe Gin Beach Butler will arrive to do the rest. Breathtaking locations include stunning Salcombe, Michael Caines MBE’s luxury five-star country house hotel, Lympstone Manor near Exmouth, boutique cliff top spa hotel, Gara Rock Hotel, near East Portlemouth and overlooking the sandy shoreline of South Sands beach from South Sands Hotel.
Lympstone Manor, is the vision of chef-owner Michael Caines MBE. Through his inspiration and drive, the Grade-II listed Georgian manor house has been imaginatively restored into a luxury country house hotel and it holds Two Keys, in the Michelin Hotel Awards, a Michelin star and 5 AA Rosettes. Its vineyard, within the heart of the grounds, has 17,500 vines and produces award-winning single vineyard status wines. Here, Salcombe Gin Beach Butler is available to residents relaxing at their outdoor pool with views across the vineyard, the Exe Estuary and the Jurassic Coast. The service can also be added on to their tranquil Shepherd’s Huts nestled in Lympstone’s woodland overlooking the vineyard. Exclusive cocktails created for this experience, include a Lympstone Summer Blush and the Salcombe Sgroppino, both combining Lympstone Manor Estate Classic Cuvée and Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point’. For a truly exceptional occasion, guests can also pair the service with Lympstone Manor’s private BBQ experience, available exclusively at their Shepherd’s Huts, allowing them to have a private BBQ chef and Salcombe Gin Beach Butler.
On a clifftop with far-reaching views of the Devon coastline, Gara Rock Hotel offers the ultimate escape for anyone craving peace and natural beauty in luxurious surroundings. Perfect for relaxed evenings, Salcombe Gin Beach Butler is also available to residents of their three spectacular Out of the Ordinary suites. Whether enjoyed in the secluded, glass-fronted The Secret Suite, breathing in the sea air from the terrace of The Signal House or entertaining in the plush Penthouse Suite, Salcombe Gin Beach Butler is a wonderfully indulgent experience. To create an unforgettable stay, guests can request that the butler joins them for private alfresco dining or sunset drinks on their suite’s terrace at the Devon retreat, with cocktails including Salcombe Treats, a delicious Salcombe Gin, red grapefruit juice and crème de mûre cocktail.
The views from the independently owned South Sands Hotel paint a blissful beachfront canvas. Exclusively available to guests staying in their luxurious J-Class Suite or Beach Suites, the Salcombe Gin Beach Butler experience is designed to make every stay unforgettable. From the privacy of guests’ own terrace or balcony, they can soak up uninterrupted views of the serene Salcombe estuary while their personal Beach Butler serves perfectly crafted cocktails. Highlights include Salcombe Gin and South Sands Hotel’s signature serves, such as the elegant Salcombe 75, a refreshing blend of Salcombe Gin, Champagne and lemon.
Whether relaxing on a peaceful stretch of beach in or around Salcombe, enjoying the views from one of Gara Rock Hotel or South Sands Hotel’s private suite terraces or balconies, or nestled in the seclusion of Lympstone Manor’s Shepherd Huts, guests of Salcombe Gin Beach Butler can enjoy beautifully prepared cocktails without having to move a muscle.
For those not able to make the journey to the coast, Salcombe Gin is also available from Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges and a selection of the UK’s finest boutique bars and 5-star hotels. Prices for Salcombe Gin Beach Butler are from £1,000 for two.
