You heard it here first, the remainder of this week is going to be gorgeous sunshine across the UK! Perfect weather for taking advantage of those lockdown activities, from heading to the park to firing up the BBQ in the back garden. Whatever activity it is, we know a weekend like this isn’t complete without a fresh, crisp Gin & Tonic.
Ahead of the stunning weather, we got chatting to our friend Ian at One Gin about their delicious social enterprise gins, including what makes them so special, the impact they have had so far and of course how to make the perfect G&T!
‘So Ian, how did you get into gin making?
I was formally Marketing Director of One Water. After The One Foundation reached the milestone of £10 million in donations in 2014 (celebrated with a reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by Samantha Cameron), I started to look at opportunities in the broader beverages space to raise additional donation.
With a personal interest in premium spirits I began looking at this market and was immediately struck by how few brands were “giving back”. With none at all in the humanitarian space, we thought that the One brand would have resonance in that market.
We chose gin as our first spirit because of the growing market and it’s proven to be the right decision. Supporting the same cause as One Water, we donate at 10% of our profit to The One Foundation to fund safe, clean water projects – which is all the more relevant at a time when washing hands is more important than ever and millions of people around the world are facing this epidemic without that basic right.
What was the inspiration behind One Gin and what makes it so special?
We know we had a good story, but we also knew that needed the full package, ie. a great looking bottle and a great liquid.
We set about creating a gin with a signature botanical to define a unique flavour profile and after experimenting with a number of botanicals which are native to the UK, we landed upon fresh sage. The marriage of juniper and sage creates something very special and makes a really fresh G&T. Our original sage gin picked up a gold award in the International Wine and Spirits Competition, which is testament to its quality.
Last year we created our second gin – Sage & Apple – which initially launched as an exclusive for Craft Gin Club, but was such a success that we launched it into mainstream distribution. We wanted to create a fruitier gin, but without adding too much sweetness. Apple is a perfect pairing for sage, so we set about perfecting this marriage. We use russet apple, and distill with the oil from the pip to bring all of the apple freshness without creating an overly sweet gin.
What has been One Gin’s impact so far? Any stats you have would be great.
We believe in business as a force for good and we set out with the intention of becoming a substantial donor to the Foundation over time. It is early days, but we have already raised over £15,000. This is just the start!
Can you tell us about the distillation process & any particularly important moments?
Both gins are London Dry style, which means that all of the botanicals are distilled at the same time. We distill in traditional copper pot stills, some of the oldest in the UK.
What’s your top tip for the perfect G&T?
Fill your glass with fresh ice. (The more ice the better because ice keeps ice cold and it will minimise the dilution of your G&T!). Pour over a large measure One Gin and top with a premium tonic of your choice. I like a light Indian tonic, about 120ml to 50ml of gin. Garnish with slices of fresh apple and a sage leaf or two.
What gin cocktail will you be enjoying this sunny weekend?
Personally I love a negroni, so I’m sure that will feature at some point. But with the barbecue out, we will certainly be making up a jug of our Garden Punch. Very refreshing and the perfect barbecue accompaniment. [Check out recipes for these at the bottom of the page]
What’s next for one gin? Any secret plans?
Lots of secret plans but they need to remain that way for a little while longer… watch this space.
So great to speak to Ian and find about One Gin; check out the full range on Social Supermarket here. Send us your pictures of the perfect G&T (or gin based cocktails) in the sunshine as we’d love to see them!
A refreshing summer cooler, perfect for a barbecue or aperitif in the garden with friends.
350ml One Sage & Apple Gin
50ml elderflower cordial
50ml lime juice
150ml green tea
300ml cloudy apple juice
100ml sparkling water
3 x cucumber strips
1 x bunch fresh mint
Pour all ingredients over ice into a large (2l) jug and stir. Garnish with cucumber strips and fresh mint.
A One Gin twist on the Negroni in honour of this special cocktail.
30ml Sage One Gin
25ml sweet Vermouth (Cocchi Torino works well)
20ml Campari
1 orange slice
20ml soda water (opt)
1 queen olive
Build & stir in a large old fashioned glass. Garnish with an orange slice, a green olive and a sage leaf.
