Isle of Wight Distillery have been riding the waves of their gin, pink gin and salt vodka for a while now. And why not? The rebrand with those gorgeous coloured, scaled bottles were really something, and they’ve built up quite the following.
But, it’s always nice to have something new, and it here it is: Mermaid Zest Gin.
In a press release from the distillery, they say:
“Inspired By The Island – Mermaid Gin Expands Its Delicious Range With New Mermaid Zest Gin
The Isle of Wight Distillery has announced the launch of Mermaid Zest Gin, a limited-edition, smooth and refreshing grapefruit and gentle juniper London Dry Gin. Mermaid Zest Gin is the fourth addition to the sustainable range which includes Mermaid Gin, Mermaid Pink Gin and Mermaid Salt Vodka. Mermaid Zest Gin will be launching at Junipalooza Gin Festival on 11th & 12th June at Tobacco Dock, London and will also be available online from the Isle of Wight Distillery and John Lewis from early June 2022.
Mermaid Zest Gin is produced in Seaview at the Isle of Wight Distillery, the first and only distillery on the island. Mermaid spirits are shaped by the distillery’s stunning surroundings and the unique character of the Isle of Wight, all whilst minimising waste using ethically sourced and often locally sourced ingredients to hand-craft a range of smooth yet complex spirits, with a hint of sea air. Mermaid Zest Gin is produced in harmony with the Island’s coastal elements, using foraged rock samphire and rosemary.
Mermaid Zest Gin is subtly enhanced with grapefruit and Cascade hops and gently infused with Island bergamot, lemon zest and wild-foraged coastal rosemary, to produce a light yet complex zesty tone with a subtle sweetness and herbal notes. Mermaid Zest Gin features the ‘dew of the sea’, coastal rosemary foraged from the Island’s shores. It is also made with fruits grown in the Victorian walled garden of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s Osborne House.
Xavier Baker, Co-Founder of Mermaid Gin says, “We are delighted to announce the launch of the limited-edition Mermaid Zest Gin to gin lovers, offering a slightly different but equally exciting taste profile to our original Mermaid Gin. Mermaid Zest Gin is a blend of citrus and herbaceous ingredients, with our signature ‘hint of sea air’ from foraged rock samphire. It’s an exciting new addition to our gin portfolio, demonstrating great versatility and delicious served as a gin and Mediterranean tonic or in a more complex cocktail.”
Mermaid Zest Gin is a full-strength gin presented in a striking emerald green scaled bottle, in line with the rest of the Mermaid spirit range. The plastic-free bottle has been crafted from recyclable glass and features a sustainably sourced natural cork stopper and tamper-proof seal made from corn and potato starch, which composts in food waste recycling within 6-12 weeks. The label on the neck of the bottle is made from recyclable, biodegradable paper whilst the bottle is also re-usable and recyclable.
Tasting Notes
Style: Smooth, refreshing and complex with a zesty tone.
Nose: Fresh grapefruit and gentle juniper.
Taste: Citrus zing and a subtle sweetness with herbal notes
Finish: Long, layered and complex with a well-rounded mouth feel.
Mermaid Gin is a small batch, beach to bottle London Dry Gin with a hint of sea air. Hand-crafted on the Isle of Wight, Mermaid Gin uses ten locally foraged and sustainably sourced botanicals which are multi-distilled to deliver a smooth, clean and fresh finish. Mermaid Gin botanicals include organic lemon zest, underpinned by peppery spicy notes of grains of paradise, with a hint of sea air from the locally foraged, fragrant rock samphire.
As part of their commitment to sustainability, conservation and a circular economy, Mermaid Gin are proactive in helping to protect the Island’s marine environment. They have adopted a progressive and sustainable approach – gradually eliminating plastic from their packaging and supply chains, while using biodegradable materials wherever possible.
The Isle of Wight Distillery work with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to monitor and restore seagrass meadows in the waters surrounding the Isle of Wight.
Seagrass meadows spread across the stretch of water between the Isle of Wight and the mainland and the seagrass meadow from Osborne to Bembridge Ledge is the longest seagrass meadow in Europe. These dense green aquatic plants sequester carbon at an astounding rate and shelter a wealth of wildlife, creating ecosystems beneath the waters. It’s estimated that 92% of these meadows have been lost over the last 100 years, damaged by pollution, human activity, reduced water quality, disease, and the effects of climate change.
In Addition, Mermaid Gin is also working with Surfers against Sewage (SAS) a national marine conservation and campaigning charity tackling plastic pollution and protecting the UK’s coastline for people to enjoy safely and sustainably. SAS is a community dedicated to the protection of oceans, waves, beaches and wildlife and fight to make sure they are completely clean, safe and protected for everyone.
About The Isle of Wight Distillery:
Rooted in the natural landscape, they are the Isle of Wight’s first and only distillery. The founders Xavier and Conrad and the small team distil spirits shaped by the stunning surroundings, and the unique character of the island. Doing things differently, the Isle of Wight Distillery minimise waste, using ethically sourced and often local ingredients to craft a range of smooth, complex spirits.“
If you’re interested in finding out more about Mermaid and the IOW Distillery, you can check out this article from way back in 2016. A lot has changed since then but it’s interesting to see how the distillery and brand has developed in that time. Thanks for sharing guys! I’m at Junipalooza this weekend and I can’t wait to try it!
