Sipsmith


SIPSMITH
Industry Distilled Beverage
Founded 2009
Headquarters London, UK
Key people
 Sam Galsworthy, Fairfax Hall & Jared Brown
Products Gin, Vodka
Owner Beam Suntory
Website Sipsmith.com

Sipsmith is a microdistillery located in London. It is the first copper-pot distillery to open within London's city limits in nearly two centuries. It is a subsidiary of Beam Suntory since December 2016.

History

Sipsmith was established in London in 2009. The first copper-pot based distillery to start up in London in 189 years, it is one of only four gin distilleries located within London's city limits.[1] The Beefeater Gin Distillery (established by the John Burrough's Company in 1863), Thames Distillers, Sacred Microdistillery, The London Distillery Company and Sipsmith are the only remaining licensed distilleries in the nation's capital. Sipsmith was launched by Sam Galsworthy and Fairfax Hall, respectively former Fuller’s and Diageo employees. Jared Brown is Sipsmith’s Master Distiller. A drinks and spirits historian and publisher, he has developed spirits in Sweden, Norway, Vietnam, and in the US[2] over the past 12 years.

The Sipsmith' still was designed and produced by the German still manufacturers Christian Carl. Named "Prudence", this copper pot still has a capacity of 300 litres (66 imp gal; 79 US gal). "Prudence" is the subject of their iconic swan neck copper still labelling, created alongside their visual identity and brand by Perry Haydn Taylor's agency, big fish, before Sipsmith was started.[3] On 16 December 2016 it was announced that Beam Suntory had taken a controlling stake in Sipsmith for an undisclosed sum, but that Sam Galsworthy and Fairfax Hall would be staying on to lead the distillery.[4][5]

In December 2016, Sipsmith was acquired by Japanese Beam Suntory, a subsidiary of Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd, for ₤50 million.[6]

In May 2017, Sipsmith partnered with the secret London culinary boutique Gingerline to create an «immersive gin dinner».[7]

Activities

The Sipsmith distillery is situated on a residential street in West London on the site of a former microbrewery, later the offices of beer hunter Michael Jackson.[8]

Sipsmith's first two spirits are a Barley Vodka and a London Dry Gin.[8] These are produced in small batches of fewer than 300 bottles, from an English Barley mash that is created off-site. Each batch is made in a traditional manner with three cuts: the Head or foreshot is discarded; the Heart or core of the distillation run is retained; and the Tail or feints is discarded. The Heart of the distillation is diluted to its final bottling strength with Lydwell Spring water, one of the sources of the River Thames in the Cotswolds.[8][9]

Products

  • Sipsmith London Dry Gin (41.6% ABV): A classic London dry style gin, it uses 10 botanicals in its maceration: Juniper berries, Coriander Seed, Angelica Root, Liquorice Root, Orris Root, Ground Almond, Cassia Bark, Cinnamon, Orange Peel and Lemon Peel.
  • Sipsmith Sipping Vodka (40% ABV): An unfiltered and unsweetened wheat vodka, the spirit derives its flavour from its essential grain base.[2]
  • Sipsmith Sloe Gin (29% ABV): released in October 2010
  • Sipsmith London Cup (29% ABV): a type of fruit cups released in August 2011
  • Sipsmith Damson Vodka (28% ABV): released in 2011
  • Sipsmith VJOP (57.7% ABV): 'Very Junipery Over Proof'

In 2015, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Singapore Sling, Sipsmith partnered with Raffles Hotels & Resorts to create a brand-made gin, the Raffles 1915 Gin.[10]

Awards

The distillery won the 2010 Observer Food Monthly Award for Best Newcomer.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Jenny Culshaw (30 July 2009). "New Gin Distilleries for London". BBC News. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  2. 1 2 "New London distillery launches first spirits". The Drinks Report. June 2009. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  3. ↑ big fish. "Sipsmith". big fish. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  4. ↑ Sherry, Kristiane (16 December 2016). "Beam Suntory Snaps up Sipsmith". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  5. ↑ Reuters Staff (16 December 2016). "Beam Suntory strikes deal with craft gin distiller Sipsmith". Reuters. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  6. ↑ Sarah Butler (16 December 2016). "untory time! Spirits giant snaps up London gin distiller Sipsmith". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Tom H (8 May 2017). "Sipsmith and Gingerline are creating an immersive gin dinner". Timeout.com. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 "UK: First gin and vodka from new London distillery". Drinks International. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
  9. ↑ "Sipsmith Distillery in Hammersmith". Dinner Diary. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  10. ↑ Kenneth Goh (1 January 2016). "Gin from Raffles descendant". Straitstimes.com. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  11. ↑ "Observer Food Monthly Awards: The Winners". The Guardian. London. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.

Coordinates: 51°29′53″N 0°14′01″W / 51.49806°N 0.23361°W / 51.49806; -0.23361

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