Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin is distilled at one of India’s oldest distilleries and encapsulates the rich heritage and history of the Indian city of Jaisalmer, known as the jewel in India’s crown. Available at The Whisky Exchange and high-end retailers, Jaisalmer Gin makes an original and stylish gift and its signature drink celebrates the origin of the Gin & Tonic in British Colonial India, where Indian Tonic Water made with quinine was first created and used to combat malaria in the 1800s.

Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin {pronounced Jessalmeer} is triple-distilled and handcrafted in a traditional copper pot still in small batches by Master Distiller Anup Barik at Rampur Distillery – the makers of Rampur Indian Single Malt Whisky. The distillery is one of India’s oldest, located in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin recipe is derived from the ancient Indian knowledge of herbs and hand-picked botanicals. Anup Barik, who comes from a family of Indian master distillers, wanted to retain the classic gin flavour using juniper berries whilst adding a refreshing twist with Indian botanicals. He has chosen seven of the 11 botanicals used in the distillation from all four corners of India. The Coriander and Vetiver, complex spice with intriguing peppery notes, are grown in the fields around Jaisalmer in the North of India. The sweet orange peel, which complements the citrus and floral tones of the gin, comes from Central India. Cubeb Pepper berries and Lemon Grass from Southern India, Darjeeling Green Tea leaves from Eastern India and Lemon Peel from Western India make up the remaining Indian-sourced botanicals.

Other botanicals include angelica root, liquorice and caraway seeds which lend a spicy, slightly anise-tinged flavour to the gin and the all-important juniper berries are from Tuscany.

The Jaisalmer Indian G&T

Pour 35ml Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin into a Copa glass filled with fresh ice. Top with Indian Tonic Water and garnish with orange peel.

The Jaisalmer Negroni

25ml Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin 25ml Sweet Vermouth
25ml Campari
Stir all the ingredients over ice in a rocks glass for around 20 seconds, until chilled. Top with ice and garnish with an orange peel twist.

The Black Buck G & Tea

50ml Jaisalmer Gin
100ml Darjeeling Green Tea
15ml Lemongrass syrup
Lemon Juice
Pinch of Matcha Green Tea powder Ice
Fill a Hi-Ball glass with ice and pour in Jaisalmer Gin. Add freshly brewed cold Darjeeling tea, fresh lemon juice and finally top with homemade lemongrass syrup and a pinch of Matcha green tea powder. Stir gently.

The Golden Fort

50ml Jaisalmer Gin 15ml Lime Juice
10ml Cinnamon Syrup 50ml Cloudy Apple Juice Sliced Green Apple Nutmeg (optional)
Ice.
Pour Jaisalmer Gin over cubed ice. Add fresh lime juice, cinnamon syrup and cloudy apple juice. Garnish with an apple fan of 3 slices and add grated nutmeg on top (optional).

The Jaisalmer Peppertini

50ml Jaisalmer Gin
20ml Pink Peppercorn Syrup 20ml Fresh Lemon Juice 40ml Pink Grapefruit Juice
Pour Jaisalmer Gin, Peppercorn Syrup, fresh lemon juice and pink grapefruit juice into a shaker. Shake and double strain into a pre-chilled coupe glass. (To make peppercorn syrup: add crushed pink peppercorns to a simple Monin sugar syrup to infuse.)

The Maharaja Mojito

50ml Jaisalmer Gin
20ml organic Agave Syrup 15ml Fresh Lime Juice
6 mint leaves
50ml Bitter Lemon
Fill up a glass with ice, pour Jaisalmer Gin. Clap 6 mint leaves and add to the glass. Add fresh lime juice, bitter lemon and agave syrup. Stir gently and garnish with a mint sprig.

RRP: £35.45 for a 70cl bottle. ABV: 43%

Available from The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt and selected high-end retailers.