Spirit of Hertfordshire
Opposite Osprey, Woodcock Hill, St Albans AL4 9HJ, UK
Hertfordshire Spirits distilling Quality Gins
WELCOME
Our distillery and the gin-lovers who run it
WHAT WE DO
We make craft gin in the Hertfordshire countryside, using botanicals foraged from our surroundings and inspired by the towns and villages of our beautiful and historic county.
OUR GIN PALACE
Come and visit our distillery, learn all about the history and manufacture of gin and watch it being made. Our ‘Gin Palace’ sells our entire range and allows customers to ‘try before they buy’.
Our distillery
Our buildings were originally a Victorian stable and later a saddlemaker’s workshop. A years-long restoration project has uncovered many original features – like the original hoof-worn stone stable floor – and unearthed countless bags of leather and brass tack and bridles.
Our customers
We welcome visitors to our distillery and shop.
We also collaborate with charities, businesses, visitor attractions, sports clubs and private individuals to create unique gin with stunning labelling and branding.
Out and about
We love to visit events all around the county to introduce our gins to a wider audience. Our beautifully restored vintage horse-box bar always makes a splash…
WHO ARE WE?
Richard Daniel – Founder
With gin-making, Richard has allowed an early-retirement hobby to become an all-consuming passion and second career. He even rebuilt and refurbished our historical Victorian stable building by hand.
Richard Osmond – Head Distiller and Forager
Richard is the head distiller. He’s also an expert forager of wild botanicals. His recipes weave together folklore, history and wild flavour to take drinkers on a magical journey.
Tippi – Gin Hound
Tippi is the official distillery dog. Find her napping in the spirit boutique most days. Rare wakeful periods are spent with our resident forager Richard, scouring the forests for new and exciting aromas.
Our Gins
Garden city Gins
Garden City Gin – Centenary Edition
£15.99 – £43.99
Classic full-flavoured gin, created for the Centenary of Welwyn Garden City.
Crisp juniper balanced with zesty citrus, with notes of local Hertfordshire lavender and Parkway linden blossom.
Description
We launched our distillery in 2020, the Centenary year of Welwyn Garden City. This gin was created to mark the occasion. The original Garden City movement promised the best of both worlds to migrating city workers: the natural beauty, personal space and clean air of the countryside combined with all the opportunities and conveniences of the modern city.
And this perfect balance of London sophistication and rural freshness can be found in the flavours of Garden City Gin too. A hearty juniper base – the distinguishing feature of the London dry style – combines with spicy and complex citrus and delicate Hertfordshire lavender (Lavender was historically one of the main exports of Hertfordshire farms). Finally, Garden City Gin is also distilled with sweet, honey-and-lemongrass-scented blossoms harvested from the linden trees which line Welwyn Garden City’s most recognisable and famous avenue.
Garden City Quince Gin
£15.99 – £43.99
A traditional classic – zesty quince gin made using crisp Garden City Centenary Gin as a base with its aromas of lavender, bergamot and linden blossom.
Description
Over a century ago, the first Garden Cities were born in Hertfordshire, combining the convenience of city living with the beauty and open space of the countryside.
Garden City Quince Gin also mixes the benefits of town and country: We handpick quinces, a traditional sight in rural orchards and cottage gardens, and steep them in a classic juniper-forward London dry gin.
A zesty tang gives way to a complex finish. The quinces’ almost-tropical aromas linger on the palate along with bergamot, lavender and linden flower from the gin’s more delicate botanicals.
Garden City – Old Tom Gin
£15.99 – £43.99
Gin wasn’t always dry! The most popular gin was once Old Tom, a smooth sweet style with notes of fruit, liquorice and a malty finish.
Speaking of malty… for 80 years, Welwyn Garden City was home to the Shredded Wheat factory, which filled the whole city’s air with the irresistible, nostalgic smell of toasty malted cereal. To make our Old Tom Gin, we add a hint of that magic cereal aroma to our premium wheat-based spirit and some choice fruity botanicals. The result is something special: a soft, fragrant gin with a hearty hint of heartwarming malt.
Garden City Gin – Wild Blackberry
£15.99 – £43.99
We’ve taken our classic full-flavoured dry gin, Garden City – with its crisp juniper, zesty citrus, notes of lavender and linden blossom – and blended it with wild Hertfordshire blackberries.
Description
We launched our distillery in 2020, the Centenary year of Welwyn Garden City. This gin was created to mark the occasion. The original Garden City movement promised the best of both worlds to migrating city workers: the natural beauty, personal space and clean air of the countryside combined with all the opportunities and conveniences of the modern city.
And this perfect balance of London sophistication and rural freshness can be found in the flavours of Garden City Gin too. A hearty juniper base – the distinguishing feature of the London dry style – combines with spicy and complex bergamot, and delicate Hertfordshire lavender (Lavender was historically one of the main exports of Hertfordshire farms). Finally, Garden City Gin is also distilled with sweet, honey-and-lemongrass-scented blossoms harvested from the linden trees which line Welwyn Garden City’s most recognisable and famous avenue.
Garden City Elderflower Gin
£15.99 – £43.99
A traditional classic – floral and spicy elderflower gin made using crisp Garden City Centenary Gin as a base with its aromas of lavender, bergamot and linden blossom.
Description
Garden City Elderflower Gin mixes the benefits of town and country, just like the Garden City movement, born in Hertfordshire over a century ago.
We hand pick wild elderflower, a common sight among Hertfordshire hedgerows, and steep it in our juniper-forward London dry gin.
Summery freshness gives way to a complex finish. The elderflower’s complex floral fragrance lingers on the palate along with zesty lemon, bergamot, lavender and linden flower.
Garden City Gin – Rhubarb
£15.99 – £34.50
We’ve taken our classic full-flavoured dry gin, Garden City – with its crisp juniper, zesty citrus, notes of lavender and linden blossom – and blended it with local Welwyn Garden City Rhubarb.
Garden City Gin – Festive Edition
£15.99 – £43.99
A festive edition of our Garden City Centenary Gin, with Christmas spices and Christmas tree aroma.
Description
This Christmas, we’ve made something special: a limited edition festive twist to our popular Garden City Centenary Gin. As well as the zesty notes of juniper and citrus, and the enigmatic perfume of bergamot and lavender, this gin also features the classic spice mix of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. For freshness and tang, It also contains sprigs of real aromatic Christmas trees, hand picked by our resident forager.
Harpenden – Classic Dry Gin
£15.99 – £43.99
Using locally-picked wild botanicals, this premium gin distils the spirit of Harpenden.
Description
River angelica harvested from the Lea at Batford Springs.
Forest herbs gathered from ancient oak woodland on the Common.
Wayside flowers picked from wild embankments on the disused ‘Nickey Line‘.
This premium gin distils the spirit of Harpenden to create a gin as classic and sophisticated as the town itself.
Harpenden Wild Blackberry
£15.99 – £43.99
Description
River angelica harvested from the Lea at Batford Springs.
Forest herbs gathered from ancient oak woodland on the Common.
Wayside flowers picked from wild embankments.
This premium gin distils the spirit of Harpenden to create a gin as classic and sophisticated as the town itself.
This blackberry edition is an Autumnal classic. The sweet dark berry notes blend smoothly with the gin’s rich, mellow notes of mint, vanilla and nutmeg.
Harpenden Quince Gin
£15.99 – £43.99
Description
We hand-pick quinces, a traditional sight in rural orchards and cottage gardens, and steep them in a smooth and elegant London dry gin.
A zesty tang gives way to a sophisticated finish. The quinces’ almost-tropical aromas linger on the palate along with notes of mint, vanilla, nutmeg and angelica from the gin’s more delicate botanicals.
Harpenden Rhubarb Gin
£15.99 – £34.99
Description
This artisan gin is made with fresh rhubarb from Harpenden rural allotments, blended with our classic dry gin made with foraged botanicals.
Take a sip and the rhubarb tang hits first, zesty and bright, followed by the flavours of the countryside – sweet woodruff and musky angelica.
Smooth vanilla and nutmeg complete the experience, like the perfect creamy custard.
Gin School
At our Gin School, gin lovers spend an enjoyable evening choosing botanicals, creating a recipe and distilling their own spirit, before heading home with their very own bottle of gin.
QUICK LINKS
Arrange a Gin School Experience here.
Buy a gift voucher for a Gin School Experience here.
Read on below for more information….
What happens at Gin School?
Introductions
Guests are greeted on arrival at Gin School with a gin and tonic. Our distillers give an introduction to gin and its ingredients, its history and folklore.
Botanicals
The students explore a wide range of classic and unusual gin botanicals, and taste a selection of gins, before creating their personal gin recipe, with expert guidance.
Weights and Measures
Next it’s time for the budding gin makers to weigh the botanicals and load them into their individual copper alembic stills, while enjoying another drink.
Heads or Tails
Distillers guide guests through the skilled process of separating the “heads”, “hearts” and “tails” of their gin. Watching the distillate slowly drip into the bottle provides the opportunity to enjoy a third gin and tonic or cocktail.
TASTE AND BOTTLE
When distillation is finished, the gin teachers assist in measuring and diluting the distillate to proper strength. After everyone has had a taste of the finished product, it is bottled and decorated with attractive customisable labels.
Gin
Happy guests leave us after three hours, full of gin and newfound knowledge, and with a 500ml bottle of their own unique gin.
What’s included?
Tickets are £175 for a couple or £145 for a single person. This price includes use of a still, access to botanicals, one 500ml bottle of your handcrafted gin to take home, three gin & tonics or martinis/cocktails each over the course of the session and a selection of nibbles.
Prices for private group events (Gin School is a popular choice for Stag and Hen parties) can be quoted on request.
How to Book
Please contact us via the booking request form to express your preferred dates. We will then get back to you to make arrangements.
Giving the Gift of Gin
Vouchers can be personalised with your own message and are valid for 12 months. They can be ordered in store or purchased from our online shop (below).
If you’re interested in bespoke gin creation, drop us an email on enquiries@spiritofherts.co.uk
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