The Goodwood Estate in West Sussex is world-renowned for its thrilling motorsport events, spectacular horse racing and flamboyant vintage festivals, and now the estate launches its first ever Sussex gin.
Ancestral heritage
Levin Down Goodwood Gin is a small batch London Dry style, and its creation reflects the agricultural heritage of the 11,000-acre estate. Goodwood is the ancestral home of The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, who has been closely involved in the creation of the gin. The first batch is on preview sale to Goodwood Members and at the Goodwood Farm Shop alongside Goodwood Brewery beers. It is also being served at event bars during the 2022 Goodwood season, with some 1 million visitors attending, and is set for sale online and via selected retailers and bars. The guide retail price is £40 for a 70cl bottle.
Levin Down roots
Goodwood Gin uniquely uses English wild juniper and aromatic gorse flower which flourishes in the Levin Down nature reserve. Levin Down, derived from “Leave-Alone-Hill”, is an ancient hill on the Goodwood Estate. It was here that the Charlton Hunt earned fame, drawing the nobility and gentry of the 18th century to Goodwood. This quiet ancient hillside is located just north of Goodwood Racecourse and Goodwood House. The gin is made with local mineral water and bottled at 43.6% abv. It has just won medals in the Gin Masters Awards, July 2022, including gold in the London Dry and Contemporary categories. The decorative bottle replicates a country house decanter and depicts a nobleman and galloping horse. A weighted glass stopper and blue and gold livery completes the look.
Sustainable goals
Goodwood Gin is created in partnership with local craft gin distiller Christopher Beaumont-Hutchings of nearby Chilgrove Spirits, in alignment with the estate’s sustainability goals and organic farming heritage; from the gin itself to the English glass bottle, wheat spirit, naturally chalk-filtered South Downs mineral water and foraged botanicals, all combine to give a proud sense of terroir. The depth of flavour lends itself to a classic and elegant gin & tonic which evokes the heady freshness of the countryside and the sociable sporting activities of the estate.
Andrew Coggings – Entertaining & Hospitality Managing Director of the Goodwood Estate adds: “Our Levin Down Goodwood Gin has been some years in creation. This launch batch is, as much as possible, a natural product of the Goodwood Estate. Our foraged juniper and gorse flower are at the heart of our gin and bring a dimension of characterful flavour. Fans of gin will certainly notice this in a classic G&T, and we hope it will inspire bartenders to experiment with their own serves too.”
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