In the 9th Century honey was a delicacy and as we are also beekeepers, we add a dash of our home-made local honey to help smooth the flavour and provide the sumptuous viscose mouthfeel of our gin. In essence, the Blowing Stone Distillery is more than just a place where spirits are made; it's where history is bottled.

The Blowing Stone London Dry Gin - The Gin To My Tonic The Blowing Stone London Dry Gin - The Gin To My Tonic

The stone emitted a loud booming sound across the downs which signalled Alfred’s command to march west to face the “heathen” Viking foe.The West Berkshire village of Compton is now officially home to the best London Dry gin in the country. We bring the events of 9th century Wessex to life through both the design of the spirit bottles and through the way in which we have developed the flavour profiles. Inside the bottle, the gin’s flavour profile has been carefully developed over scores of test distillations using botanicals that were available in the 9 th century (including meadowsweet, gorse and honey).

The Blowing Stone London Dry Gin | Master of Malt The Blowing Stone London Dry Gin | Master of Malt

To capture and balance these flavours, we use a three-part process combining traditional batch pot distillation methods of steeping and infusion with the careful blending of a fragrant botanical tea. In the 9th Century honey was a delicacy and as they are also beekeepers, added a dash of home-made local honey to help smooth the flavour and provide the sumptuous viscose mouthfeel of gin. If you are a cocktail fan and are looking for the best London dry gin for cocktails, then look no further! The name comes from a stone used to summon troops to the Battle of Ashdown back in the year 871 (it made a loud noise when you blew through it – it wasn't like a magic stone that teleported people), and the range features botanicals that would have been foraged or readily available at the time.We are really thrilled that in our short history we have been able to create such a well-respected gin. Its delicate and distinctive flavour comes from a blend of meadowsweet, elderflower and hand-picked wild gorse from the North Wessex Downs. On the 8th January 871, an Anglo-Saxon army, led by King Ethelred and his younger brother, the future King Alfred the Great was about to face the Viking army…a formidable enemy, intent on establishing Danish rule over the whole of England. For the perfect Blowing Stone London Dry gin and tonic, mix approximately three parts tonic to one part gin and garnish with pink grapefruit or a citrus segment such as lime or orange. Most notably the Battle of Ashdown – the decisive conquering of the Vikings by Alfred the Great, saving England from Viking domination.

The Blowing Stone | Master of Malt

The award-winning Blowing Stone ‘Ashdown Series’ has been inspired by the rich local heritage surrounding our distillery in the village of Compton, West Berkshire and celebrates the profound impact of this early medieval period on the course of England’s history. The premise behind our lovingly crafted gins is that to create our rich and distinctive flavours using botanicals that could be found growing wild at the time of the battle – many of which (but not all as you will see! part gin to 3 parts tonic, served over ice with a slice of lemon or lime, for a refreshing and sophisticated drink.

The 4 mini gin bottles include our London Dry, which was awarded the ‘Best English London Dry Gin 2021′ at the World Gin Awards. The Blowing Stone Distillery in West Berkshire finds its identity deeply rooted in England's historical tapestry. If you are looking for flavoured gin gifts in the UK, The Blowing Stone mini gin gift set, is the perfect gift! Through its offerings, one gets to taste not just the flavours of West Berkshire, but also the legacy of a time when kings blew through stones, and battles changed the course of history.