This month we are pleased to feature a guest blog from Darren Macaskill, Head of Marketing at Silent Pool Distillers on their new product, Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin.

Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin

Here at Silent Pool Gin, we have been rather busy of late. We have been travelling the globe in search of the world’s rarest and most intriguing citrus fruits to grace our new gin. It’s the first major launch under the Silent Pool Gin brand since that iconic teal and copper bottle that you all know first burst onto the craft gin scene back in 2014. So cue a not-so-silent fanfare for Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin.

We may have taken a path less travelled to arrive at this alluring new gin, but one sip and you will realise that the destination is every bit as rewarding as the journey. This wonderfully complex spirit balances bright and zesty, with subtly sweet, beautifully aromatic and delicately spiced for a truly satisfying taste experience.

But what’s so rare about the citrus? Well on our journey to locate the finest citrus fruits, the production team here at Silent Pool Distillers searched the globe and eventually unearthed two renowned citrus collectors who share their relentless passion for creativity and excellence.  Leaving their busy lives and careers in Paris in 2001, Ann and Jean Paul Brigand moved to the gorgeous Alentejo coast in Portugal and set about building their home, Lugar do Olhar Feliz.

This duo has a particular passion for citrus. So they have made it their mission to help young Portuguese farmers and chefs (and bartenders, of course) discover and fall in love with citrus as much as they have done. They now boast a citrus collection of more than 300 varieties imported from the far flung corners of the planet – yes you read right, 300! Ann and Jean Paul have one of the largest and finest citrus collections in the world.

When our team visited their citrus grove, it far exceeded all expectations. Head Distiller Tom Hutchings commented: “We were just blown away by what we found. Hundreds of the rarest and most incredible citrus. The aromas and tastes were like nothing we’d ever experienced before.”

The team sampled dozens of citrus varieties before selecting the most interesting and aromatic flavours to take back to the distillery to begin formulating our distinctive new gin.

After much recipe development our team settled on four lead varieties. Inside the zesty tipple you’ll find:

  • Buddha’s hand,
  • Green Seville Orange,
  • Natsu Dai Dai (a hybrid of orange and pomelo),
  • and lastly, Hirado Buntan (a type of pomelo).

It wasn’t an easy task balancing all those different types of citrus in the final distillation. How have we done it you ask? Our distillers have adopted the same bespoke 4-stage production approach used to create our original Silent Pool Gin to produce remarkable layers of ever-changing flavour in this new offering.

The result? A masterfully distilled and beautifully aromatic gin with a unique taste. But call this a flavoured gin though and our Head Distiller Tom Hutchings will wince. “Please don’t mention the F word. As with Silent Pool Gin, this is a naturally distilled gin where all the flavours are captured in the distillation itself with no artificial colourings or flavour compounds added in afterwards. We’re passionate about making proper gins in the right way. This is a naturally distilled gin with oodles of classic juniper to be enjoyed, complemented with wonderfully complex layers of citrus and spice.”

If that hasn’t got your mouth watering, we have also got five different ways for you to enjoy this lovely new gin. Why not try one of these delicious drinks yourselves:

Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin Rare Citrus G&T

Rare Citrus G&T

Generous handful of ice
50ml Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin
100ml Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic
Garnish with a twist of grapefruit

Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin Rare Citrus Negroni

Rare Citrus Negroni (The classic Negroni but with slightly higher ratio of gin to let it really shine through)

40ml Silent Pool Rare Citrus,
20ml Campari
20ml Sweet Vermouth
Stir and serve on the rocks, garnish with pink grapefruit twist

Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin Rare Citrus Highball

Rare Citrus Highball

35ml Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin
15ml Umeshu 
15ml yuzu juice
10ml sugar
Build in a highball, top with soda and garnish with an orange twist and thyme

Rare Citrus Gimlet

Rare Citrus Gimlet

60ml Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin
15ml clementine cordial
Stir and strain into a Nick and Nora Coupe and garnish with a bay leaf

 Rare Citrus Twist

Rare Citrus Twist
25ml Silent Pool Rare Citrus Gin
15ml Melonade
10ml lemon juice
Shake and strain into a flute and top with sparkling Sake. Garnish with an edible flower

All images: © Silent Pool Distillers

Blog by Darren Macaskill, Head of Marketing at Silent Pool Distillers