Nicholson a Greatness in gin brands

1, Heathcote Gate London SW6 3BH, UK

Our Story

Once upon a time there was a great gin brand called Nicholson. Considered by many experts to be one of, if not the first in England.

And then there was not. And this irked us.

From being one of London’s first and foremost gins for 250 years and then nothing? Did not seem right what with us living through the world’s 2nd Gin Craze n’all.

So, we set about putting it right. The gin you see in front of you is the result of that crusade. You will forgive the slightly religious slant. Because there was a fervent zealousness about us that bordered on the devout.

The Then

How much time do you have? I mean we’ve saved you a bunch by blowing the dust off a stack of dusty old documents at the Hackney Archives. Which, FYI isn’t a million miles from the location of our original home, the 3 Mills Distillery in Bromley by Bow. Yup, a 300-year-old brand sure does rack up those docs… ledgers, deeds and dossiers. We went through ‘em all.

If stats are your thing, then hang on to your britches, here are some numbers for you: at the brand’s peak: 85,000 square foot distillery, 15 different stills, 26 different categories with 200 different products, an export market of 130 countries, 1 brewery & 80 pubs.

If it’s innovation that floats your boat, then look no further. It’s hard to say who exactly was the first at doing anything in this industry, but Nicholson was always up there. In creating orange and peach bitters, clove brandy, rum schrub, flavoured gin and dare we say it, we even had a part to play in the refinement of London Dry.

There were some impressively highbrow collabs: the distillery made gin for both the houses of Lords and Commons and the Savoy hotel. There was some sexy stuff too. Well, we think so. Nicholson Gin featured in several cocktail books written during the golden age of cocktails.

Which got us to thinking. What was it about the flavour of this gin that meant some of the world’s most celebrated and revered bartenders felt bound to name check it in their recipes?

So, we kept on searching and you know what we found. A recipe. It looked good, we were dying to try it. So, we sought the help of some of the world’s most preeminent gin distillers and to them uttered those now immortal words: “We’re putting the brand back together”

The Now

One of the few positive outcomes of the rather traumatic last 5 years – and we’re rather grasping at tiny sip straws here – is that more and more people appreciate a cocktail rather than having ‘the usual’ when going out for night, it seems discerning folk out (or in) for a tipple are choosing to carpe the old diem.

Now that might mean having a lovely cocktail at home (got you covered) or ordering one in a bar that traditionally wouldn’t serve cocktails (still got ya).

What with our long history of being the bartender’s choice in cocktails and also being at the forefront of creating some of the world’s most innovative products, it seemed only natural that we would return to what we once did best – some might say better than anyone else – and use our knowledge of producing great liquids in quite literally all the different shapes, sizes, colours and categories imaginable.

Do you remember us telling you earlier about all the different products we were slinging through our many, massive stills over at the distillery in East London in the last centuries?

Well, we’re about to (re?) launch our own vodka made from British winter wheat – we were producing one back in the 1920s (fact check) you know. And there’s more than likely another Jamaican rum in the offing – though it’ll probably be a little more refined than the one from 100 years ago!

Never the brand to stand still we are also creating a bunch more liquids with a slightly different slant. The exact sort that you lot are after at the moment. One’s that take all the fuss out of making great drinks. You know what we believe? There’s no harm in bandwagon jumping if you were the one that hitched the blooming wagon in the first place.

 The Nicholson cocktail offering comes in two formats, let’s call them ‘Home and Away’. Home: Real Cocktails in a Bottle. Some people might call them RTDs we prefer RCBs.

As good as anything you’ll get in a bar, with zero faff. Simply refrigerate, pour over ice, garnish if you’re feeling fancy. Away: the state-of-the-art cocktail Nicholson On-Tap offering means that even bars with no cocktail capability can provide you with a delicious libation.

Not only can you now get a finely crafted cocktail in the sort of venue that might traditionally excel at pouring a finely crafted pint of mild, but did we mention they can have it in your hand in record time?   We’ve incorporated some of the cocktail scene’s most cutting-edge innovation to bring to you versions of these drinks that you probably wouldn’t have tasted before.

Nicholson Original London Dry Gin

£ 37.95

We have lovingly reimagined our original recipe which was created when Nicholson invented the London Dry flavour in 1830. Our London Dry Gin is blended to perfection using 10 botanicals sourced from all over the world. Underpinned by juniper and citrus and enhanced by hints of woody richness and the sweetness of liquorice root, it delivers a long, smooth finish.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Alcohol by volume – 40.3% Vol
Closure – Cap with cork
Format – 70 cL

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Light notes of lemon and angelica, with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Palate: Sweet, with a heavy dose of juniper and citrus, and hints of woody richness. The licorice root adds further sweetness, providing a lovely depth of flavor.
Finish: A long, dry, smooth finish.

THE PERFECT SERVE

The perfect base for a Martini or Classic G&T. For a G&T, mix with a quality tonic water over ice. Stir gently and garnish with an orange slice or zest.

Nicholson Negroni

£ 45.00

The Nicholson Negroni blends the long, smooth, juniper-infused greatness of our iconic London Dry Gin with the deep and complex warmth of Italian Vermouth and bitters. A timeless classic, crafted to contemporary perfection. Lifted to another place with our signature cut of Sicilian blood orange.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Alcohol by volume – 22% Vol
Closure – Cap with cork
Format – 70 cL

THE PERFECT SERVE

Classic Negroni: Store in the fridge. Pour 100ml into a rocks glass filled with ice. Stir and serve with an orange zest.

Negroni Spritz: 1 part Nicholson Negroni, 1 part fresh orange Juice and 1 part soda water. Combine all ingredients in a tumbler with multiple small cubes of clear block ice, stir gently. Garnish with a thick orange zest.

Negroni Royale: 1 part Nicholson Negroni, 1 part fresh orange juice and 1 part sparkling water or champagne. Combine the Negroni and orange juice in a spritz glass with ice, stir gently. Top up with sparkling wine or champagne. Garnish with a thick orange zest.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Bright blood orange.
Palate: A burst of juniper and citrus with smooth Sicilian blood orange.
Finish: The bittersweet taste of summer.

Nicholson Original Blood Orange Gin

£ 39.50

Nicholson Original Blood Orange Gin is a reimagination of one of our best selling flavoured gins. First developed in the 1920’s, it has been adapted for a modern palate and is a true British classic. This gin is a celebration of the laid back, happy feeling one gets on a perfect English summer’s afternoon.

It’s a crisp, dry, delicate and balanced gin using Sicilian blood oranges to deliver a refined, premium and refreshing taste. Once in the glass and poured over ice, it takes on a beautiful light pink hue reminiscent of a sunset on a balmy evening. To be enjoyed at anytime, on the beach, by the pool, or simply kicking back in the garden with friends.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Alcohol by volume – 40.3% Vol
Closure – Cap with cork
Format – 70 cL

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Bright blood orange.
Palate: A burst of citrus combined with an elegantly smooth juniper note.
Finish: Rich, bittersweet citrus with a complex finish.