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Finsbury London Dry Gin (Finsbury London Dry Gin) is one of the oldest brands of London dry gin. The drink has been produced since 1740 according to the original recipe from natural herbal ingredients. The brand retained its leadership in the UK market until the beginning of the XNUMXth century. Currently, the brand belongs to the German company Borco and is in second place in sales in Germany.
Historical information
Finsbury Distillery founder Joseph Bishop opened his distillery when gin became a national threat to Britain. Despite desperate attempts by the authorities to bring order to the industry, illegal production and underground trade flourished. The strong drink was cheap and helped the poor to escape from hard work and hopeless life.
In an effort to hide the taste of fusel oils, manufacturers added not only juniper and sugar to the drink, but also sulfuric acid and turpentine. As a result, the death rate in London at the beginning of the XNUMXth century greatly exceeded the birth rate.
Joseph Bishop became one of the first producers of truly high-quality gin. When creating the recipe, the young entrepreneur relied on the rich experience of his ancestors, who have been in the alcohol business for centuries. The basis for the drink was neutral alcohol from molasses with a minimum amount of impurities, it was distilled in small batches in copper stills, designed for 10 thousand liters.
In 1751, the government issued the famous Gin Law. The document touched little on manufacturers, the main punitive measures were directed against the underground trade in alcohol. For each report of the illegal sale of gin, the whistleblower was entitled to a good reward, and the punishment for the criminals was severe. Distillery owners have been hit hard by the innovations, as overall distillery consumption has dropped by a third.
In this situation, Bishop was not at a loss. The entrepreneur reduced the production of strong alcohol and switched to Stone Ginger Wine, named after a good friend of the family, grocer Joseph Stone. The drink soon became the flagship brand of Finsbury Distillery and is still produced in the UK.
In the XNUMXth century, the distillery experienced its heyday. Great Britain in those days was shaken by terrible epidemics of cholera. There was a widespread belief that alcohol protected against the disease, so sales of gin and ginger wine skyrocketed. Stone Ginger Wine has gained fame as a drink that helps digestion and enhances sexual desire.
The company has long remained a family business, but increased competition forced the owners to sell the distillery. Since 1994, Finsbury gin has been produced by the German company Borco, which promoted the brand on the international market back in the 70s.
Production features
Finsbury gin production technology has remained unchanged since the 100th century, and the recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. The exact composition of spices is not made public. It is known that the maceration kit includes juniper, angelica root, coriander, lemon and exotic fruits. Neutral alcohol is still distilled in a small copper plant that is over XNUMX years old.
Interesting Facts
- Joseph Bishop’s descendants continue to be involved in the alcohol business. The great-grandson of the winemaker in the eighth generation, Charles Maxwell, is the owner of the Thames Distillers plant, which produces about 60 types of craft gin for individual orders.
- The British publishing house Harley published a book dedicated to the history of the Finsbury distillery from 1740 to 1965. The pages of the publication tell about the Bishop and Stone families, as well as the iconic ginger wine Stone Ginger Wine.
Characteristics of Finsbury London Dry Gin, 37,5%
Crystal clear transparent drink with aroma of citrus fruits, coriander and fresh baked goods. The structure of the gin is oily, lemon sherbet, zest and licorice are felt in the taste. Juniper sets off the bouquet and is in the background. The aftertaste is long and slightly bitter.
