Pondwell Hill, Ryde PO33 1PX, Verenigd Koninkrijk
HMS Victory a Confident gin with Heart
The Isle of Wight Distillery
HMS Victory a Confident gin with Heart / Owners
Founded by Xavier Baker & Conrad Gauntlett in 2014, the Isle of Wight Distillery is the island’s first and only distillery and the home of Mermaid Gin.
Rooted in the natural landscape of a unique island, our small team distil spirits shaped by our stunning surroundings and the unique character of our island. Doing things differently, minimising waste and using ethically sourced and often local ingredients to craft a range of smooth, complex spirits.
A PASSION PROJECT
BRINGING A HINT OF SEA AIR
With a wealth of knowledge in brewing and winemaking, Xavier and Conrad set about combining their experience to embark on a passion project, hand-crafted spirits, made on the island, using wild-foraged and ethically sourced ingredients. Since the Distillery was founded in 2014, Mermaid Gin and its varieties have made their way across the country as well as adventuring overseas, bringing a hint of ocean air to gin lovers across the globe.
SUSTAINABILITY
As part of our commitment to sustainability, conservation and a circular economy, we’re proactive in helping to protect our island’s marine environment.
We’ve adopted a progressive and sustainable approach – gradually eliminating plastic from our packaging and supply chains while using biodegradable materials wherever possible. We’re on a continuous journey to improve every step in our process to minimise our impact on the environment.
NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Inspired by our island setting, we use ethically sourced and natural ingredients wild-foraged from the island’s shores. Rock Samphire is foraged from our shoreline, Boadicea hops are harvested from Ventnor Botanic Gardens and elderflower is handpicked from local fields, while our strawberries are grown in the lush and sun-soaked Arreton Valley.
OUR DISTILLING PROCESS
Slow distillation and local, sustainably sourced ingredients combine to craft a pure and perfectly blended range of spirits. Working with column stills, the distillation process is tightly controlled, capturing only the ‘hearts’ of each batch – the sweet spot of any distillation – for our signature smooth delivery.
Distillery
The Wishing Well, Pondwell Hill, RYDE, Isle Of Wight, PO33 1PX
About
Bar, restaurant and shop is open but no talks are available at this time. Spirit taster boards can be purchased from the shop. Pre-booking is essential. To book a table call 01983 613653.
By combining a wealth of experience in brewing and wine-making with locally sourced ingredients they have created a range of premium spirits that express the beauty and character of the Island they love.
The only distillery on the Island was licensed in 2014 by long term friends Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett. Listen to talks about the distillery and taste the Island-inspired spirits.
Their first barrel of whisky, laid down in 2015, was soon followed by Mermaid Gin, a smooth, elegant and complex gin made with locally foraged rock samphire and Boadicea hops; Mermaid Vodka with a salty edge; HMS Victory-branded Navy Strength Barrel-aged Gin and Rum, incorporating real oak from the famous warship in a unique and exclusive partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
The spirit range is hand-crafted in small batches and slow distilled before being cut with local spring water and bottled on the Island. The result is an award-winning range of spirits with a contemporary style, layered complexity and signature smooth delivery that brings this unique Island to life.
Whilst you visit stay for a drink in the mermaid bar where you can enjoy a refreshing mermaid gin and tonic.
The Isle of Wight Distillery is committed to environmentally friendly production, the preservation of the Island and the marine environment. The selection of sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable materials together with energy-efficient production drives our goal of a no plastic, zero carbon future.
*Awarded Silver in the World Vodka Awards 2021 for the Mermaid Salt Vodka.*
A TASTE OF HISTORY
Working in partnership with The National Museum of the Royal Navy, the Isle of Wight Distillery produces this unique, sophisticated 57% ABV Navy Strength Gin under a special licence. Crafted in the spirit of high seas, courage and adventure – and named after one of our most famous warships – a percentage of all our HMS Victory Gin sales are donated to support her ongoing restoration.
HMS VICTORY GIN
Bold and strong, our award-winning HMS Victory Navy Strength Gin packs a high concentration of botanicals to deliver a powerful, intense flavour worthy of the world’s oldest serving warship. A confident gin with heart and a sense of history for the Gin aficionado.
FLAVOUR
TASTING NOTES
A smooth and complex gin with a classic, bold style. The nose is intense, boasting citrus and peppery notes whilst the taste has warm spice and vibrant lemon zest. A long layered and complex finish completes the gin, ending with a well-rounded mouthfeel.
HMS VICTORY GIN & TONIC
INGREDIENTS
- 25/50ml HMS Navy Strength Gin
- Top up with Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic
METHOD
Fill a tumbler with a generous helping of ice. Add 25/50ml HMS Navy Strength Gin and top up with Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic.
GARNISH
A wedge of lime & a cucumber slice.
Mermaid Gin
MERMAID’S KISS
Our signature gin’s name was inspired by its lead botanical rock samphire, known locally as ‘mermaid’s kiss’. This aromatic
succulent clings to the cliffs surrounding the Island and marks the high tide line on its majestic beaches. Like the kiss of the mythical mermaid, saving sailors lost at sea, the rock samphire was a signal that shipwrecked sailors and smugglers were safe from the raging seas.
FREE YOUR SPIRIT
From wandering along sunkissed beaches to diving into the ocean, there’s an element out there that helps each one of us capture our essence.
By combining nature, adventure and purpose we embrace our true selves and when the sun sets on our wildest journeys, there’s a Mermaid moment waiting.
FLAVOUR
TASTING NOTES
A smooth, refreshing and complex contemporary style, with fresh citrus, sweet spice and gentle juniper on the nose. The taste has citrus zing, combined with peppery spice and an earthy sweetness which is complemented by a hint of sea air. A long, layered and complex finish rounds off the experience with a well-rounded mouthfeel.
ROCK SAMPHIRE
Handpicked from chalk cliffs. Fresh citrus and hints of sea air.
ELDERFLOWER
Locally foraged, enhances and adds an aroma.
JUNIPER
Core botanical in all gin.
GRAINS OF PARADISE
Smooth, warming pepperiness.
ORGANIC LEMON ZEST
HMS VICTORY OAK AGED GIN
£262.10
A RARE CHANCE TO TASTE A PIECE OF HISTORY. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL NAVY, WE HAVE RECREATED THE STYLE OF GIN IMBIBED BY NAVAL OFFICERS DURING THE 1800’S AT 57% ABV.
HMS Gin was stored on board ships in oak barrels that had been used for wine. As with whisky, much of the colour, flavour and character is carried over from the oak itself. We commissioned four oak barrels to be re-made from wine casks by Alastair Sims, England’s only Master Cooper.
Each barrel contains oak stave from the HMS Victory, extracted as part of her ongoing restoration, imparting this famous ship’s true character in the gin. The barrels were filled in May 2016 with our HMS Victory Navy Strength Gin.
There have been four limited edition releases; the first release was in October 2016, the second in May 2017. The third was released two years later, in May 2019, with the final batch aged for five years, and released May 2021. Each release is limited to 251 70cl bottles, as 2016 saw the 251st anniversary of the launch of the HMS Victory. Each bottle is individually numbered and presented in a locally made box with a leather handle and engraved coaster.
THE MERMAID BAR
Sample our collection and watch the stills in action from the comfort of The Mermaid Bar at the Isle of Wight Distillery. Situated on the outskirts of Ryde in picturesque countryside, enjoy a Mermaid and Tonic on the terrace or relax in comfort by the log fire with a cocktail or two. With delicious food and a superb cocktail menu, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
CURRENT SERVICE
We are open as a bar, restaurant and shop. We are unable to offer tours, due to the size of our facility. However, our still room can be viewed through a glass wall, Spirit Taster boards can be purchased from the shop and our knowledgeable staff will be happy to talk you through the distillation process and the stories behind our brands.
Opening Hours:
Sunday to Thursday 10am – 9pm
Friday and Saturday 10am – 11pm
Please call to make a reservation 01983 613653 or email mermaidbar@isleofwightdistillery.com
GETTING TO US
From the Mainland
Take the Wightlink FastCat from Portsmouth Harbour Station to Ryde Pier or the Hovertravel hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde Esplanade.
When on the Island
Take the Southern Vectis route 8 bus from Ryde bus station (towards Newport) and get off at the Wishing Well stop.
Take a Taxi
Take a taxi from Ryde to Pondwell, PO33 1PX.
Ryde Taxi – 01983 811 11
Criss Cross Cabs – 01983 640 24
Ashey Taxis – 07506 779 944
HMS Victory a Confident gin with Heart
B CORP & PLASTIC-FREE
In 2022, we achieved another sustainability goal of becoming a B Corporation, joining a global, progressive community of organisations using business as a force for good, balancing profit with purpose and people.
Mermaid Gin has been awarded first place in the IWSC Awards and Best Eco-Packaging from the American Distilling Institute. Crafted from recyclable glass, our bottle features a natural cork stopper and compostable tamper-proof seal.
We’ve extended this approach to our packaging and gift sets, ensuring that boxes are reusable where possible and always recyclable. By presenting our gin in a plastic-free package and supporting marine conservation projects, we aim to preserve the environment we’re inspired by.
