How many Sussex gins and gin distillers are there? Lots! So many, we may have lost count. But we thought it was time to put Sussex gin very firmly on the map, so here is our A to Z of the Sussex gins that we have found so far. Let us know if we’ve missed one.
Arundel Gin
Inspired by Arundel’s incredible history, Arundel Gin’s signature gin is a blend of eight botanicals and water from the South Downs combined to create “a refreshing and slightly zest essence”. Although relatively new, these guys are already award winning.
Ashling Park Estate
Ashling Park is a vineyard near Chichester where they also make gin and host a gin school. Their Pointer’s Pour Gin is distilled with Pinot Noir grapes grown on the estate.
Bolney Estate Gin
Bolney is another vineyard that now also makes gin, and their Bolney Estate Gin is a classic, dry English gin. They describe it as having “a vibrant freshness of lemon oil and fennel delicately balanced with hints of bay and juniper”.
Brighton Gin
Based in Portslade, these popular craft gins are certified 100% vegan. They started in 2012 and their Seaside Navy Strength gin is not for the faint-hearted.
Cabin Pressure
Made in Horsham, Cabin Pressure make award-winning small-batch spirits and liqueurs from their micro-distillery, using a glass vacuum still. The result is great flavour, clarity and smoothness. They have a whole range of gins that cover a number of flavours.
Chichester Harbour
A small batch gin company based in Chichester, they use local Chichester produce, such as seaweed, bay leaf and juniper, to develop this unique small batch hand-crafted gin with water from the South Downs.
Chilgrove Handcrafted Spirits
Another Chichester brand, Chilgrove makes a range of gins including their Bluewater and Bramble editions. They use 100% grape-alcohol with water from the South Downs along with twelve carefully balanced botanicals.
Ditchling Gin
Ditchling Gin is a premium London dry style gin that uses quality UK-sourced grain together with a unique array of locally foraged botanicals and the Sussex water. It is described as “a fresh, well-balanced spirit as coriander, juniper, orange, lemon, bitter almond and cassia bark botanicals combine for a rich taste and a subtle sweet orange citrus finish.”
Devil’s Dyke Gin
Inspired by the folklore and beauty of Devil’s Dyke, this artisan gin is distilled with classic dry gin and specially foraged botanicals found on the Devil’s Dyke including victoria plums, milk thistle and black elderberry. They’ve got some really interesting gin editions.
E
We haven’t found a gin for E yet so if you know of one, get in touch!
Foxhole Spirits
Foxhole Spirits, based at Bolney near Haywards Heath, use leftover grapes to create their Hyke gin series. They then use a selection of botanicals that have been inspired by the grapes’ origins. They make a number of different gins, major on sustainability and are award winning.
Generation 11
Tucked away near Chailey and the Bluebell Railway, Generation 11 is a family-run, small-batch gin distillery. They are named after the fact that they are 11 generations descended from William of Orange and his wife Mary who brought Jenever (from which modern gin is descended) to England. They also use their own spring water from a natural well fed by the ancient woodlands of Chailey Common.
Grand Gin
The Grand in Eastbourne has produced its own signature gin. It’s not made in Sussex but is made with local botanicals to deliver a smooth and memorable gin reflective of the hotel. Ingredients include local honey, wild gorse and samphire handpicked from the coastline nearby. The samphire delivers a nuttiness whilst the gorse brings a coconut and pineapple edge with the honey creating a smooth finish.
Harley House Distillery
Harley House is a small batch distillery based in Seaford not far from the Seven Sisters and their gins are packed with more personality than you can shake a stick at. Their distillery prides itself on creating unique produce that showcases the local area and leaves a lasting memory on the tastebuds. They use water from their aquifer on the South Downs. Their showstopper is their Sussex Blue Gin which changes colour but that should not distract you from their range of other gins including their curiosity series.
Haswell and Hastings
Haswell and Hastings produce a number of gins including their Haswell Dry Gin and their Hastings 1066 Gin. In 2020, they added a strawberry gin to their repertoire and what’s not to love about the idea of a Hastings Smugglers Dry Gin?
Initial Gin
Initial Gin (officially called LDN Initial Gin) is made by G&H Spirits of Steyning in West Sussex. It’s described as “…elegant and effortless. Lemon zest packs a punch, matched by the natural sweetness of clementine, and delicately balanced with cocoa and macadamia.”
Jarrold’s Gin
Jarrold’s award-winning London Dry Gin is a fusion of two gin-defining traditions. Quality London dry gin mixed up a little with a heavier note of juniper from traditional Dutch genevers. Their bottles are as beautiful as their gin!
K
Calling all Ks.
Levin Down Goodwood Gin
Levin Down Goodwood Gin is a small batch London dry style gin, created as a reflection of the agricultural heritage of the 11,000-acre Goodwood estate. Levin Down is a particularly feisty hill not far from Chichester where you’ll find the wild juniper and gorse flower used in this gin.
Mousehall
Mousehall Country Estate lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in a secluded valley on the northern edge of the parish of Mayfield in East Sussex. They make their spirits in a traditional copper pot still and launched their signature Mousehall Sussex Dry Gin in 2022.
Madame Jennifer
This is a boutique urban distillery in Hove and has been crafting premium spirits since 2018. The owners have a background in biology and chemistry and they combine this knowledge with traditional methods to create spirits with carefully selected ingredients.
Mayfield
A craft gin made with a signature botanical Sussex hop and seven other natural botanicals distilled in a 150-year-old copper pot still for a smooth, and complex premium gin.
Nibbs Elderflower Gin
This gin only just makes it onto the list as it’s made in Surrey using freshly picked elderflower from the Surrey and Sussex countryside.
Old Git
Old Git gin is a bit of an enigma. It is made by Rude Mechanicals which in turn is part of Boutinot Wines. Boutinot is a not a Sussex company but their gin seems to be made in Sussex. Old Git describes itself as “Traditionally double distilled in two-hundred litre copper alembic stills, with a handful of heady botanicals, for a racy gin packed with charm, that will delight even the stiffest of gin bores.”. I feel so seen.
P and Q
Still looking for Sussex gins beginning with P and Q! There must be some.
Rathfinny Estate
Rathfinny near Alfriston is best known for its wine but they also make gin. Their Seven Sisters Gin is a London dry style gin, produced from the estate grapes; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier and blended with grain spirit.
Slake Spirits
Slake Spirits is an independent artisan gin distillery based in Worthing. Slake gin is distilled Sussex gin which has been produced by redistilling neutral grain spirit that has been cold compounded with juniper berries and other natural botanicals to impart their flavour. There is no added sugar or indeed anything else, but there is pure South Downs spring water. Their gin can be sipped neat and is described as “complex, distinctive and showcase locally grown and gathered botanicals”.
South Saxon
The South Saxon Spirits distillery, established in 2019, was Littlehampton’s first commercial distillery. They produce small batch Classic, Peach and Spiced gins using the more complex vapour infusion LDG method to produce subtle flavour notes and aromas.
Tom Cat
Wiston Estate Gin
Another of the Sussex wine estates now producing gin. Wiston has teamed up with Tom from Slake Spirits to produce a gin described as “a classic juniper led London dry style gin which respects the traditions of style, whilst celebrating Wiston Estate”.
Worthing Gin
Known for their traditionally distilled Sussex dry gin with a rosemary twist, Worthing Gin also makes an exotic mango, blush orange, raspberry, and blackcurrant gin.
X and Y
Yes, we’re still looking for an X and Y gin!
Zesty!
Until we can find a Z gin, let’s cheat a little and invite you to pour yourself a large Sussex gin, add a slice of lemon and enjoy a gin-zest! Cheers!
If you’ve enjoyed our A to Z of Sussex gins, you may also like:
