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Certified Scottish Gin
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Since 2015, the Saxa Vord distillery has released an annual limited edition cask aged gin (each time matured in different barrels) to celebrate the island’s much loved Up Helly Aa fire festival. It’s proved more and more difficult to get hold of year on year, with the most recent editions selling out on pre-order within hours. The bottles have become a collectable amongst both Shetlanders and Scottish Gin enthusiasts in recent years, with a small group of collectors holding a bottle from each launch. This is the 2024 edition, and ninth in the series, using ZEsty Gin and resting it in a Port Cask for 3 months.
Tasting Notes
Flavours
Nose
The nose is bright from the citrus but with woody notes.
Taste
Lemon, juniper, some earthy spices and sweet red fruits.
Finish
Lingering citrus, spice and some subtle sweetness.
How to enjoy this gin
Best served with a premium tonic and a large lemon twist, to bring out the bright citrus flavours. Or why note savour the citrus and aged notes in a complex gin cocktail, like a Martinez.
About Shetland Reel
At the very tip of the British isles lie the Shetland Islands, where the North Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is a place of mystery and secrets. Of long summer days and long winter nights. Of dramatic weather. Emerging from this remote community is the Saxa Vord Distillery, the most northerly in the UK, started by four people sharing a passion for producing quality spirits. The distillery is located at the northern end of Unst, the most northerly inhabited island in the UK, accessible from mainland Shetland by two ferry journeys, via the island of Yell. It is closer to Norway in distance and in culture than it is to much of Scotland.
Production
The Saxa Vord Distillery was established in the former RAF Supply Depot at the former RAF Saxa Vord in Unst Shetland. It would have stored everything that the RAF needed at the site from technical radar equipment to beds, blankets and uniforms. The owners of Shetland Reel bought the site about 12 years ago when it shut down and turned the married quarters to self-catering houses, the Sergeants Mess to a hostel and seasonal restaurant and the large building at the edge of the site just looked as though it should be a distillery, which would create jobs all year round. So in 2014, the site was converted into dedicated production facilities for the Original Gin. Gin Still Elsi (named after the Manager’s daughter) must be one of the smallest in Scotland at 100 litres, but works very efficiently and produce all Shetland Reel Gins all year round. All Shetland Reel expressions are London Dry style and involve soaking the botanicals, at least overnight, in the neutral spirit before beginning distillation. Nothing is added once distillation is complete and the only other change to the taste or nose the team might make is by maturing some of the gin in whisky or sherry casks for Limited Editions.
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