The Sacred Gin Distillery

By Fiona Keating on January 27th 2012

Ian Hart of the Sacred Gin distillery, reveals his secrets and favourite Highgate haunts to Fiona Keating

 Q: How did you manage to create such a unique recipe?
A: I discovered a 17th century encyclopaedia called Hortus Indicus Malabarius, which was commissioned by the Dutch East India Company to record the spices at the height of the spice trade. That gave me an idea of the kinds of botanicals I should be using and then it was just a case of trial and error and following hunches. We used to go to our local pub, the Wrestlers, on Sunday evenings where the landlord, Martin Harley, very generously allowed us to let people taste the various blends we had come up with and then one night - it was our 23rd attempt - somebody said, "This is it!" and Martin said that if we bottled it, he would have it as his house gin and that's exactly what happened. Then people in the industry got to hear about it and now we're in Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason, plus independent retailers such as Highbury Vintner and the Sampler.

Sacred Gin is unique in that all of the botanicals, including fresh cut citrus, are distilled separately in glassware under vacuum (the vacuum pump is in a former Wendy House in the garden!) at a very low temperature, eliminating the harsh marmalady and bitter flavours so prevalent in gins distilled at higher temperatures. This freshness is key to the distinctive character of Sacred Gin which, unusually, can be enjoyed straight - although obviously it makes a very good gin and tonic too.

Q: What is it you enjoy most about living in Highgate?
A: The feel of a traditional English country town as opposed to a big city - but only 20 minutes from central London. I was born and bred in Highgate and can't imagine living anywhere else in London.

Q: Do you sell your products in any pubs and restaurants in Highgate?
A: Quite few, including the Wrestlers,  the Rose and Crown, the Red Lion and Sun, the Flask, and further down the hill, the St John Tavern.

Q: Do you have a favourite restaurant or pub in Highgate?
A: Too political a question to answer! The Wrestlers has been particularly supportive but actually we're very lucky to have such a wide range of good pubs in the vicinity and I visit pretty much all of them fairly regularly - whilst drinking responsibly, I hasten to add.

Q:  Which are your favourite landmarks?
A: The Cemetery is quite an amazing, particularly the West Cemetery which has beautiful Victorian gothic and Egyptian style sunken mausoleums but the East Cemetery, where Karl Marx and George Eliot are buried, is still interesting. We're also very lucky to have Kenwood House nearby with its wonderful collection of Rembrandts, Vermeers and Turners - the Adam Library is particularly fine. I don’t think these count as tourist attractions but my partner Hilary is very fond of High Tea in Highgate and the Highgate Bookshop.

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