Bog Myrtle fine Botanical in Gin
An entrancing sweet-smelling resin comes in evidence when the leaves are crushed between the fingers. A large straggle of Bog Myrtle in the sodden hills can be smelled from over half a mile away from Dock Tarn, above Buttermere, which has a large colony of Bog Myrtle. It is wind-pollinated, the pollen being allergenic.
Bog Myrtle has quite a reputation for its ability to repel midges and fleas by its very strong aroma, and has been used many times in the past and even recent past for such duty, due to the odorous resin it contains. A midge repellent called ‘Myrica’ made by steam distilling the volatile oil from Bog Myrtle was sold by a Scottish company in the Isle of Skye. It was found to be very effective on Scottish midges (Culicoides impunctatus).
But it has an even bigger reputation as a substitute for hops in brewed alcoholic beverages. If ever your author were to brew a beer made from Sweet Gale, he would name the beer Regale! There is a Scottish brewery, Fraoch, that is brewing a Heather Ale using Heather and Bog Myrtle from the extensive crops on Scottish bogs. It is reportedly an abortifacient, so pregnant women should avoid drinks and condiments containing Bog Myrtle.
The flowers are borne in catkins, the male are orange and angled upwards, the female are red and drooping; it is (usually) dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants, but occasionally monoecious with both male and female flowers (catkins) on the same plant. Individual plants are also known to have changed sex from year to year. There are only photos of the male sex here, I need photos of the female plants with flowers.
A yellow dye which was formerly used in tanning can be extracted from Bog Myrtle.
It was a traditional medicine with uses against parasites and to treat skin disorders and gonorrhea – also used as a diuretic.
It is now thought to be related to Bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica (formerly known as Morella caroliniensis) which has naturalised on wet heathland in North and South Hants. A fragrant wax can be obtained from the fruits of Bayberry
(aka Candle Berry
) which burns emanating a fragrance. This is an introduced and naturalised plant planted for ground cover for birds which is naturalised on wet heathland in Hampshire (both North and South).
Nitrogen Fixation
Bog-myrtle grows only in wettish peaty soils typical of upland acidic bogs where nitrogen levels are low; but it has nitrogen-fixing Frankia-genus actinobacteria within its root system and is thus able to fix atmospheric nitrogen from the air which allows it to flourish in this nitrogen-poor environment. Bog Myrtle is one of the few plants capable of this feat apart from the well-known ability of certain members of the Pea Family (Fabaceae) which can also accomplish this task, and Water Fern, of course.
MONOTERPENES
Both leaves and fruits are covered in glands which secrete a resinous and fragrant substance.
Myrtenol is the resinous substance in Bog-Myrtle responsible for its pleasant aroma and its insect repellent and beverage flavouring properties. As can be seen it is chemically related to Verbenol, another terpene which is found in some species of Verbena plants (Vervain), and in turpentine, a solvent for good paints. Both have the configuration, if not the structure, of cubane
. α-Pinene is also present as an aroma compound, being Verbenol without the extra -OH group.
Bog Myrtle also contains Eucalyptol (aka 1,8-Cineole), which contributes to the resinous smell. Eucalyptol, obtained as an essential oil from Eucalyptus Trees, is also used in cough medicine and throat lozenges for its refreshing and cool sensations and some cigarettes which in the 1960’s were claimed to be ‘as cool as a mountain stream’, but doses are small for it is toxic in higher concentrations. It is used to treat nasal obstruction and asthma.
The essential oil also contains several other MonoTerpenes and Sesquiterpenes as major components: α-Pinene, Germacrene-B
, β-Cadinene
, γ-Cadinene
, Caryophyllene, Myrcene, Limonene, β-Terpinene
, p-Cymene, 4,11-Selinadione
, 11-Selinene-4-ol
, β-Elemenone and 1,8-Cineol
. The Germacrenes, of which versions A to E are known, are insecticidal sesquiterpenes produced by a number of plants, some also playing a role as insect pheromones; the most ubiquitous are Germecrene A
and Germacrene D; Germacrene B
is not common. Bog Myrtle also contains the lactone
sesquiterpenoid
Germacrone.
β-Elemenone is found in Bog Myrtle (as well as Alexanders, also in herbs and spices) but apparently despite its pleasant aroma is not for use in fragrances. It acts as an effective larvicide against several insects.
Bog Myrtle in Hepple Gin
A modern take on a classic gin, let the refreshing flavours of intense green juniper, bright Douglas fir, and savoury lovage, bog myrtle, and blackcurrant leaves transport you to our moors in one of England’s last wild sanctuaries.
Elegant and intense, Hepple Gin elevates classic cocktails to the next level with ease, with even its most delicate notes able to cut through big flavours from other mixers. Martinis, negronis, gin and tonics, and gimlets all stand out in the crowd with Hepple.
Hepple Gin
Bog Myrtle
Worldwide distribution
Bog myrtle is distributed throughout western and northern Europe, from Portugal, Spain, Britain, Ireland and the Netherlands to Scandinavia. It also occurs in France, Germany, Poland and across the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into eastern Russia. It is distributed throughout much of northern North America, including Alaska, all of Canada, Washington, Oregon and from Minnesota eastwards to New England in the USA, as well as the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. A subspecies (Myrica gale ssp. tomentosa) is found in northern parts of Japan, the Korean peninsula, Sakhalin Island and eastern Siberia.
Distribution in Scotland
Bog myrtle occurs throughout much of Scotland, particularly in the west, from Dumfries and Galloway in the south, to the far north of the mainland, and including the Inner and Outer Hebrides and some parts of Orkney. It is most abundant in the Highlands, where its habitat requirements of wet, acidic soils are more ubiquitous. In Aberdeenshire and Angus the distribution is sparser, and in the Central Belt and Borders there are a few scattered populations, where the soil conditions are suitable.
Blackwood’s Vintage Dry Gin 2012. 40% abv use also Bog Myrtle
Blackwoods is my house gin at BD Mansions. It comes in an apothecary-like bottle with a stopper, emphasising the Scottish island of Shetland. However, distillation has now moved over to the mainland since Blavod took over the brand. It uses sustainable hand-harvested botanicals from the Shetland sea cliffs, all gathered in one year. Hence, the vintage stated is really about the botanical character of one year, not ageing. These include bog-myrtle, wild water mint, sea pink, meadow-sweet, angelica root, cinnamon, liquorice, coriander, citrus peel, orris, violets and turmeric.
Taken neat, this is a bright, medium-bodied spirit with explosive citrus and herbaceous notes and a floral nose. Individualistic and elegant, good smooth texture and relatively subdued juniper. Splendid as a G&T; crisp, subtle and satisfying, light and refreshing. It has an ethereal quality that is slightly less successful when presented as a Dry Martini. I prefer something more muscular.
Blackwood Gin
Bog Myrtle
Caorunn Gin Bog Myrtle Botanical
Handpicked Scottish Botanicals
Caorunn Gin a Cut Above The Rest
- Rowan Berry; sacred in Celtic legends, this unassuming piquant berry has been lauded for use in medicines and recipes for generations. Our name comes from the Gaelic phrase for Rowan Berry. It’s the very soul of Caorunn Gin and a key part of our recipe.
- Heather; this fragrant purple plant is an integral part of the Scottish Highland landscape and Caorunn Gin. It infuses a soft, sweetly resinous aroma and creates perfumed undertones and the nuance of honey.
- Coul Blush Apple; you could argue we have a big thing for apples (and you’d be right), but the most northerly grown apples in the UK are something special. Grown in Ross-Shire since 1827, their sweet aromatic taste perfectly complements our other botanicals.
- Dandelion; used as a herb throughout history, this botanical is sometimes misaligned as a weed by some naysayers, but not us. We know it adds a unique aromatic freshness to Caorunn Gin.
- Bog Myrtle; while you might not be able to pick this fragrant plant out in a lineup, we promise you it adds a softly sweet aroma to our gin that you won’t forget.
Caorunn Gin
Bog Myrtle
