Martin Miller, by all accounts, is something of a character, so it was no surprise to his close friends when over drinks in a bar in London's Notting Hill he announced that he was going to create a gin, but not just any gin, in fact it was to be “a modern classic, but with a twist on tradition, it’ll be a fresh, soft gin unlike any other. Our obsessive attention to every last detail, that will be our secret ingredient”. He may be an eccentric, but Martin Miller was also true to his word.
The Journey of Martin Miller’s Gin
Every new venture is said to take a journey, however, this gin of Martin Miller’s does that quite literally. From the distillery in England’s ‘Black Country’ the gin travels 1500 miles north to Iceland. This country of Fire and Ice is home to some of the purest waters in the world. It is this water that gives Martin Miller’s Gin a softness unlike any other. The clarity of flavour and an almost sweet mouthfeel are also attributed to the clean, sparkling, untainted waters of Iceland.
A World of Botanicals in London Dry Gin
Juniper is the one ingredient most often associated with gin, but the supporting role of a host of other botanicals cannot be denied and for Martin Miller it was essential that each chosen element be sourced from across the globe to ensure the highest quality and consummate flavour. Juniper berries thrive in several exotic climes, but only the best are chosen for this gin, be they from Tuscany, Macedonia or India.
The other components of this elixir, while exotic, were not chosen for this reason alone, instead they each contribute an essential quality that rely on each other to attain the desired outcome. Angelica is sourced from France, Finland or Iceland and is rumoured to be a potent guardian and healer. Cassia bark from China is similar to cinnamon although more powerful and fragrant; liquorice root is used for its intense sweetness; coriander seeds contribute a subtle citrus twist; lime peel amalgamates the citrus flavours and Florentine Iris brings all the parts together in delicate harmony.
As crucial to gin as juniper are the oranges used in the distillation. Again it was important for Miller to have only the best so he looked to Seville. The bitter, dried rind of these sun-kissed citrus fruits adds the vivid and refreshing complexity to the blend. These dried citrus peels are distilled separately from the heavier botanicals to retain the zesty, clean attributes.
Ingredients Come Together in Pot Still Called Angela
The process by which all these carefully sourced ingredients come together to make the final creation comes down to the single pot still named Angela. Built in 1904, this round-bellied copper still encompasses tradition and excellence. Martin Miller believes that world-class gin begins with precisely measured and weighed botanicals that are then painstakingly steeped in spirit and hot water overnight to extract the exact proportions of each of the individual qualities.
Martin Miller Captures Tradition & Taste
Gin has a remarkable history throughout the world’s bars during the past centuries and it is this sense of glamour that Martin Miller set out to capture with his gin. Whether in a classic martini, a gin and tonic or a contemporary cocktail the dedication and detail are obvious in every sip. As Martin Miller says, this is a gin “born of love, obsession and some degree of madness”.
