WHAT OUR RESIDENT GINSARIAN SAYS:

We're no strangers to peculiar gins here at interGIN. I've been fortunate enough to try many strange concoctions and combinations. But it's been a while since I laid eyes on something so strange and beautiful at the same time.

The Isle of Wight is famous for many things. The UK's biggest ever festival, for one. But I wasn't aware they were also famous for their mermaids, which is exactly the impression this bottle gives off. It's a shimmering ocean blue, and of course it's textured much like the scales of a fish, lending itself to an overall beautifully designed bottle. Certainly it's easy on the eyes, but what about the taste? It's made using Isle of Wight rock samphire, which I had to look up - it's a succulent, salt-tolerant plant native to the British Isles, so this gin hits pretty close to home. Uncorking, I poured a large measure onto some ice, mixed with one of our tonic waters and added a slice of lemon for luck. Initial sweetness gave way to a blast of citrus, with a peppery undertone throughout the entire experience. It was wonderfully refreshing, and reminded me of the sea - something I should be fairly familiar with, given that I live by the sea!

The Isle of Wight distillery have created a fantastic gin here, using simple ingredients found locally. The bottle certainly manages to make a statement, and yet in no way does it belie the quality of the beverage it holds. I really can't recommend this to anyone in particular, Mermaid Gin would absolutely be perfect for anyone.

You can view our whole range of gins from the Isle of Wight Distillery here.