The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2020 - Issue 27

bite drinks EALING GIN Becoming widely and socially recognised in the space of less than a year since founders Simon and Amanda Duncan launched Ealing Gin, Jada Brookes is mesmerised by the bottle decor and taste of the gin. T here are probably many gins who would claim they are the King but in this world, there is only one Queen of London dry gins - Ealing Gin. In Simon and Amanda Duncan’s experience, who have lived in the area for many years, the people of Ealing have always and continue to enjoy both good society and a good drink. Thus, they created a super-pre- mium gin in October 2019 that is more than worthy of carrying the ‘Queen of the Suburbs’ gin mantle, a nickname given to the west London area over a century ago. Ealing Gin paints a picturesque vision of the area that includes the famous Ealing Studios, its tree-lined streets, pretty public parks, and the lively, stylish social scene that became a magnet for filmmakers, actors, musicians, and artists. Not forgetting the beautiful Art Deco buildings that sprang up across the borough, in particular the former Hoover building, which inspired the bottle’s decorative design. With a theatre and Blues Club also established, Ealing had very firmly established its ‘reign’ by the 1960s. Today, the ‘Queen of the Suburbs’ is still classy at heart, still stylishly sociable, still down to earth and welcoming. “So, if anywhere deserves its own gin it’s Ealing, and we’re incredibly proud to be its creators,” says the duo. “Of course, it had to be a suitably elegant, sophisticated, beautifully crafted gin and bot- tle… truly top-notch but always affable and pleasant.” Ealing Gin is handcrafted in small batches in their copper still which they call ‘Felicity’. Simon Duncan’s family has lived in Ealing for four generations so the founders’ distillery is located in the heart of the area. The carefully distilled gin, which is delicious and refreshing, uses the finest botanicals of classic rich juniper with sweet-sharp pink peppercorn, zesty orange, aromatic spices, and chamomile, gar- den mint, scented rose and rosemary, along with pure filtered water and pure grain alcohol. This combination delivers both complexity and so- phistication whilst remaining friendly and pleasing to the palate. They say gin makers have one particular serve they recommend but Ealing Gin has three. Each one is designed to enhance a particular character of the gin and the mood or palate of the drinker. In addition to your preferred tonic and ice, Ealing Gin suggests adding three recommended ingredients such as Fresh Mint whose “sweet, warm but fresh character of the leaves en- sures all the layers of Ealing Gin really sing! This makes for an incredibly refreshing and vibrant G&T.” The second is Pink Grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary, in which “the juicy pink grapefruit makes the citrus tones even more viv- id and the aroma of the rosemary enhances the ‘grassy’ green hue. The result is deliciously clean and crisp.” Lastly, Scented Rose Petals in which “the subtle floral notes from the chamo- mile and scented rose are made brighter and perkier. It makes the gin seem slightly sweeter… very easy and pleasing on floral loving palates.” Ealing Gin is available in a 70cl bottle as well as in a gift box with an exquisite design that takes its inspiration from Ealing’s iconic Art Deco architectural gems. Each bottle is hand-finished and then fired in the oven in small batches, which means the tones and hues may slightly differ but still keeps its unique individuality. GQ described the gin as “a clean, smooth and thoroughly pleasing spirit” while The Evening Standard said, “A pre- mium London Dry Gin… elegant, small batch in a bottle made for showing off.”