Oxford
Oxford, The City of Dreaming Spires, is famous the world over for its University and place in history. For over 800 years, it has been a home to royalty and scholars, and since the 9th century an established town, although people are known to have lived in the area for thousands of years. Nowadays, the city is a bustling cosmopolitan town. Still with its ancient University, but home also to a growing hi-tech community. Many businesses are located in and around the town, whether on one of the Science and Business Parks or within one of a number of residential areas.
With its mix of ancient and modern, there is plenty for both the tourist and resident to do. Whether its visiting one of the many historic buildings, colleges or museums, going out for a drink or a meal, taking in a show or shopping till you drop, Oxford along with the entire county of Oxfordshire has it all and oxfordcity.co.uk is your online Oxford City guide.
Oxford university.
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world’s second-oldest university in continuous operation. It grew rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. After disputes between students and Oxford townsfolk in 1209, some academics fled north-east to Cambridge where they established what became the University of Cambridge. The two English ancient universities share many common features and are jointly referred to as Oxbridge.
Oxford Artisan Distillery.
Oxford Artisan Distillery. Old Depot, South Park, Cheney Ln, Headington, Oxford OX3 7QJ, Verenigd Koninkrijk
FARMING A NEW APPROACH TO SPIRITS
At the very heart of our spirits is the seed we plant; the seed that grows the grain we distil, that with time and skill (and more time) becomes the spirits we sell, the dram we drink and the moment we share with friends.
And our seed isn’t just any old commercially-grown, bought-in-bulk seed. We are the only distillery using diverse populations of ancient heritage grains – rye, wheat and barley that are adapted to our local growing conditions – to produce our full range of spirits. It might not be the economical way to produce spirits but the flavour profile these grains produce, and the environmental benefits, pay it back in spades. Our commitment to soil quality, land regeneration, community and the environment goes beyond our passion for spirits.
It was our chance encounter with Oxford-based archaeobotanist, grain expert, and now our farming partner, John Letts, of Heritage Harvest Ltd, at a farmers’ market which, if you’ll excuse the pun, gave our idea its roots and established the fundamentals of our farming.
OXFORD RYE DRY GIN.
Our Oxford Rye Dry Gin is a juniper-forward rye gin using a classic combination of botanicals to give bold notes of juniper, pine and citrus, and a hint of aromatic spice.
Gin recipes are all about telling a story. Our gin recipe tells the story of our fields, starting with the seed that we plant and the heritage grain that we grow. As with everything at The Oxford Artisan Distillery, the gin base is distilled from our heritage grains, grown just for us mostly within 50 miles of Oxford. Eschewing pesticides and chemical fertilisers all of our crops are grown sustainably, contributing to an abundance of wildflowers, insects and birds across our farms.
If a long-time fan of our gin, you might notice a change to our name and label. Previously certified Organic, we have decided to focus on putting our farming first, whilst making no changes at all to how our grain is farmed. This change reflects our commitment to working with all farmers working restoratively as we do (not just those certified Organic), using no chemical inputs whatsoever and putting the soil health first.
Suggested serve: Fill a highball glass with ice and pour in 1 part gin to 3 parts Fever-Tree Refreshingly Light Tonic. Garnish with a slice of tart apple.
BOTANICALS
Juniper, Coriander, Angelica Root, Orris Root, Lemon Peel, Orange Peel, Bitter Orange Peel, Nutmeg, Cubeb, Liquorice Root, Meadowsweet and Angelica Seed.
OXFORD BOTANIC GARDEN – PHYSIC GIN.
This richly complex gin is a collaboration with and a true celebration of the University of Oxford’s extraordinary Botanic Garden – the oldest of its kind in the country. Founded in 1621 as a physicke (physic) garden for the teaching of herbal medicine, Oxford Botanic Garden was planted during the 1640s by its first keeper, Jacob Bobart the Elder. In 1648, Bobart created a catalogue of all the plants which he grew, now preserved as a treasured ancient manuscript at the Garden. The Oxford Artisan Distillery is the only distillery in the world allowed access to the catalogue and Garden to both inspire and flavour its recipes.
25 unique botanicals, mostly from Bobart’s list and many grown and foraged in the Garden today, give Physic Gin its distinct personality and flavour. Sweet notes of juniper and bay are prominent, with botanicals like wormwood, rue and sweet woodruff bringing a deeply complex flavour. Expect rich, earthy notes from this gin – like nothing you have tasted before. Herbaceous, savoury, and complex, this is a gin that truly represents 400 years of medicinal botanical cultivation.
As with everything at The Oxford Artisan Distillery, the gin base is distilled from our ancient heritage grains. Eschewing pesticides and chemical fertilisers all of our crops are grown sustainably, contributing to an abundance of wildflowers, insects and birds across our farms.
ASHMOLEAN DRY GIN.
Our Ashmolean Dry Gin is a collaboration between The Oxford Artisan Distillery and the Ashmolean Museum, the University of Oxford’s Museum of Art and Archaeology and one of Oxford’s most prestigious institutions. Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean’s world famous collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories across cultures and across time.
This spirit is inspired by the Museum’s collections from around the world and is crafted with 17 botanicals including exotic jara lemon, rose, jasmine, and spices from the Middle East and Asia. Full tasting and juniper-led, with notes of cardamom and myrrh, the finish is clean with a lingering taste of orris and lemongrass. This is a spirit to savour in a G&T with 1 part gin to 3 parts light tonic, and garnished with a slice of jara lemon or orange.
As with everything at The Oxford Artisan Distillery, the gin base is distilled from our ancient heritage grains, grown just for us within 50 miles of Oxford. Eschewing pesticides and chemical fertilisers all of our crops are grown sustainably, contributing to an abundance of wildflowers, insects and birds across our farms.
The bottle illustration is Spray of ‘Morning Glory’, by Takeuchi Seiho (1864 – 1942), part of the museum’s Eastern Art collection.
