When is a distillery not a distillery? I hesitate to call this visit a distillery visit, because, whilst Tappers Gin do distil gin, it’s not what they’re known for.
Tappers are known for their range of compound gins – you may know it as ‘bathtub gin’. Rather than the spirit being put into a still with the botanicals, it’s put into containers and the botanicals infuse over time into the spirit, before it’s bottled.
Compounding is something that anyone can do, much like distilling (subject to licenses etc obviously), but again, like distilling, it takes skill to do well. Which is why Tappers are known for it, because they do do it really well.
This week I visited their small but well formed home on an industrial estate in the Wirral.
One room houses their stills (they have two), and the stainless steel containers that house the compound gin – enough for 36 bottles in the case of Darkside Gin. For a geek like me, it’s a fascinating process. I could have happily spent hours talking to Steve and Sue. And nearly did. We chatted about the process, the botanicals they use, the length of time it takes before we moved next door, to the Office.
The office has now been transformed into a cocktail bar. You can pop by to pick up a bottle and have (a small) one for the road whilst you do. Or if you’re the passenger, more than one for the road. Thankfully I had a taxi on hand, and help, because we made inroads into the cocktail menu. And a few of their bespoke gins.
Oops?
There are a range of classics – including a delicious Martinez using the Darkside Gin, and a Breakfast Martini made with Three Fine Days, their citrus led compound gin.
And then there are a range of bespoke creations. The Spring Fizz, is a light, floral cocktail using their Springfever Gin, elderflower liqueur, rose liqueur, soda and Prosecco. Alongside this was their Apres Ski, definitely a winter warmer with the rich flavours of the Wintergreen gin, cassis, lime and soda.
Perhaps the most exciting bit for me was this. The two gins in this picture use the same botanicals. One (on the left) is compounded, the one on the right is rectified (distilled). Sampling them side by side was a lesson in gin. It’s possible to pick out the botanicals, and that they are the same, but the flavours they give the two spirits are very different.
What you’re looking at on the left is Darkside, and on the right is it’s mirror, Brightside. Brightside gin has yet to be released, but if you’re a gin geek like me, you’re going to need both, just to enjoy them side by side. It might be something to pop on your gift list, because Brightside will be released in time for Christmas.
We finished on the most autumnal of their cocktails, timed perfectly for September. The Golden Crown uses Falling Leaves gin, bergamot, pear jam, ginger, egg white, and it garnished with edible gold. Round, soft, with a hint of spice, it’s a warmer for these cooler edged days.
I left warmed, happy, and only a little sad that it was just a few hours I was able to spend there. It’s a fabulous little space, with warm hosts, delicious gin, and great cocktails.
It just means I’ll have to head back again soon.
