Best Southwestern English Alcoholic Beverage Types
Somerset is one of the centers of cider production in England. The ciders from Somerset are typically dry and full-bodied. Their color can range from yellow to light amber, and they can be clear or cloudy. Most are intensely flavored, fruity, complex, and bittersweet, but they can vary in style and character. Somerset ciders are made by traditional methods and usually with sharper, bittersweet apple varieties such as Jerseys, Kingston Black, or Dabinett.
Most ciders are a blend of apple varieties, but there are some single varietals. Somerset has a centuries-old cider tradition that most likely started in monasteries. It remains one of the most prolific regions for traditional English ciders.
Plymouth gin is made with grain alcohol, soft Dartmoor water, and seven botanicals that include juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, orange and lemon peel, orris, and cardamom. It was created in 1793, and it is still produced in the original copper still that dates from 1855.
Plymouth was the only type of gin with a geographical indication, but since 2015, it is no longer applied. This gin is still only produced in Plymouth, at the namesake distillery, which was formerly known as the Black Friars Distillery. Plymouth gin is full-bodied and smooth, with juniper flavor and aromas that are accompanied by citrusy, earthy, and herbaceous nuances.
Perry is made by fermenting the juice of pressed, local perry pears where up to 25% cider apple juice can be added, and cider is made opposite the perry, where local apples are pressed and up to 25% perry pear juice can be added. Ciders have a uniquely rich appley taste with a balance between sweet and bitter and can be medium sweet or dry.
Perrys have a soft, floral, fruity taste with a typical bitterness and their color is pale. Ciders and perrys are produced only from locally grown fruit in the areas of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Slider is a traditional drink from Devon that combines gin-infused sloe berries and cider. The sloes are usually left as a by-product of making sloe gin and are then macerated in cider for several weeks. The infusion will attain a darker, reddish hue, while the flavor is fruity, herbal, and subtly bitter, reminiscent of apples and sloes.
The drink can also have subtle almond notes, which are imparted by the sloe kernels. Slider can be enjoyed neat, but it also works well in mixed drinks, combined with soda water, tonic, or lemonade.
Best Southwestern English Alcoholic Beverage Producers
Hermitage Cognac specializes in rare, single-estate vintage cognacs, sourced from family-owned cellars. They focus on providing exceptional, unblended spirits, free from additives, which reflects the craftsmanship of the Grande Champagne region. The brand offers age-stated and Paradis Vintage cognacs, ensuring authenticity and exclusivity for collectors.
Hermitage Cognac prides itself on transparency, guaranteeing provenance and quality for every bottle. Their offerings cater to connoisseurs and investors, with a commitment to producing some of the finest cognacs available today.
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2021, 2020, 2019
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding
2021, 2019
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Cognac Gold Trophy
2021, 2020
BEST Hermitage Cognac Spirits
SC Dogs Distillery is the first and only rum distillery located on St. Martins in the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom. This family-owned distillery crafts premium spirits, including rum, vodka, and brandy, drawing inspiration from the rich maritime heritage of the islands.
Each product pays homage to local historical figures, known as "sea dogs," who have significantly contributed to the island's history. SC Dogs Distillery is committed to quality and authenticity, ensuring that each bottle reflects the unique character and history of the Isles of Scilly.
AWARDS
London Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
BEST Sc Dogs Distillery Spirits
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2022
BEST Lyme Bay Winery Wines
The Plymouth Gin Distillery, located in the Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth, Devon, UK, is part of Chivas Brothers, a subsidiary of the global drinks producer Pernod Ricard. This distillery, one of the oldest and most iconic gin distilleries, has been in operation since 1793.
Plymouth Gin is known for its smooth flavor, which comes from a unique blend of seven botanicals: juniper, coriander, angelica root, orris root, lemon peel, orange peel, and cardamom. The distillery also produces Plymouth Navy Strength Gin and Plymouth Sloe Gin.
AWARDS
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2021
The Gin Masters - Gold
2022
ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2015
BEST Plymouth Gin Distillery Spirits
Ramsbury Brewing and Distilling Co Ltd is a producer of beer and spirits located in the United Kingdom. The company operates an estate where they grow their own ingredients for their products. They utilize traditional brewing and distilling methods.
They produce a range of beers as well as gin and vodka.
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023, 2021
London Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
BEST Ramsbury Brewing & Distilling Beers
The Somerset Cider Brandy Company Ltd is a producer of apple-based spirits. The company focuses on crafting cider brandy, which is distilled from cider made from traditional apple varieties. The distillery operates its own apple orchards and uses these apples in their distillation process.
The company is known for aging its cider brandy in oak barrels to develop complex flavors.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2024, 2022
Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
2024, 2023, 2022
BEST The Somerset Cider Brandy Company Spirits
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2024
BEST Shroton Fair Gin Spirits
AWARDS
International Wine Challenge - International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy
2024
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2023
BEST Robert Oatley Wines
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2022
BEST Southwestern Distillery Limited Spirits
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2019
BEST Papillon Dartmoor Distillery Ltd Spirits
Best Southwestern English Alcoholic Beverages
AWARDS
SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023
London Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding
2021
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Cognac Gold Trophy
2021
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Cognac Gold Trophy
2020
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold outstanding
2020
Somerset Pomona is a unique and delightful alcoholic beverage crafted by The Somerset Cider Brandy Company Ltd. This product is a blend of juice from vintage apple varieties and cider brandy, both of which are aged in oak barrels. The aging process, which typically lasts for around two years, imparts a rich, deep flavor characterized by notes of apples, dried fruit, and subtle oak.
Somerset Pomona boasts a moderate alcohol content, generally around 20% ABV, making it ideally served as an aperitif or digestif. It is particularly famous in the Somerset region of England, celebrated for its cider and brandy production.
AWARDS
Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
2022
Ramsbury Single Estate Gin is a classic London dry gin that aims to capture the local landscape in a bottle with a modern twist. It is distilled in a copper still using Horatio wheat grown on the estate and then redistilled with botanicals, including locally foraged juniper from Salisbury Plain and quince, also exclusive to the Ramsbury Estate.
This gin offers floral notes and crisp quince transitioning into spicy juniper, with a refreshing finish and a hint of spice.
AWARDS
London Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
The Spirit of the Lethbridges - Whisky Barrel-Aged Rum is a premium rum crafted by SC Dogs Distillery in collaboration with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). This distinctive spirit honors the Lethbridge family, renowned for their generations of service as coxswains and lifeboat crew on St. Mary's in the Isles of Scilly.
Distilled in small batches from pure local ingredients, the rum is aged in old whisky barrels, imparting lingering notes of peat that create a taste to savor over ice or with your favorite mixer. Bottled at 43% ABV, it reflects the maritime heritage and dedication of the Lethbridge family.
AWARDS
London Spirits Competition - Gold
2024
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold outstanding
2020
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold Outstanding
2019
AWARDS
The Vodka Masters - Master
2022
AWARDS
IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2022
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