Introducing L&C: Our Exclusive New Craft Gin

As you’ll already know, we love working with independent winemakers around the world to produce small-batch, boutique wines of the highest quality. It’s been a passion of ours for as long as we’ve been going, and partnering with other creatives in our industry to produce premium wines is very much in our DNA. So… why not do the same with gin?

L&C is a refined and sophisticated gin, that’s very much a fusion of Dave’s keen eye for quality gin and gin-making expertise from one of the finest distillers around. With an impressive legacy of nearly 200 years in brewing and distilling under their belt, it was an absolute no-brainer that Bullards were the right team for the job!

Last week, we caught up with Master Distiller, Jake, and the rest of the team at Bullards in Norwich, to help out with bottling and labelling the first few L&C gins. And so, with the first batch now ready and on its way to a select group of our luckiest customers, we thought we’d take you through what to expect from the newest addition to the VW gin collection!

Simplicity is the key with L&C (…and the clue is in the title!). Lime leaf and cardamom are the two star ingredients in this fragrant and elegant London Dry Gin.

After a fair bit of trial and error, experimenting with all sorts of weird and wonderful flavour combinations, Dave and Jake knew they had found ‘the one’ with this magical mix of citrus and spice. Combining the flavour and aromatics of lime zest with the sweet spiciness of cardamom gave the gin a heavenly palate that couldn’t be topped.

The gin fanatics amongst us will also know that, being a London Dry Gin, the botanicals have been re-distilled with the gin and juniper, infusing flavours that are intense and give a deliciously long finish. It’s a method that produces the highest quality gins, and Jake knew it would really allow the lime and cardamom to shine.

With the botanicals picked and the recipe fine-tuned to perfection, the time had come to bottle our very first batch of L&C. And we were immensely excited to join Jake and the team at Bullards Distillery for the big moment.

Dave was on hand (quite literally) to write the first few labels on the gin he and Bullards had worked so hard on. A nice moment to mark the completion of a successful and thoroughly enjoyable project. After a hard day’s graft of bottling, labelling, sealing and numbering 750 L&Cs by hand, Batch 1 is now ready for dispatch!

So, what’s the best way to enjoy the luscious L&C? Well, according to Dave (who better to ask than the guy who helped to make the gin!), there are two routes you should try at home if you want to achieve “the perfect pour”.

Option 1 – The Purist’s Approach
Let the gin do 99% of the talking with this simple method. All you need is some ice in your tumbler and a double measure of L&C, topped with a splash of full-fat premium tonic. Gently stir and away you go. The sublime notes of citrus and warming spice are unimpaired by garnish and a larger quantity of tonic.

Option 2 – The Classic G&T
If you prefer a more traditional gin and tonic, draw on the botanical components in the L&C and use a glass that allows those vibrant aromas to spring out of the glass. A large wine glass does the job nicely here. Drop in some ice cubes, add a single 25ml measure of L&C, a little lime peel, four green cardamom pods, and stir gently. Top up with your preferred plain slimline tonic and enjoy.

Let’s hear from the man himself. Take it away, Dave!

We will, of course, be adding L&C to our spirits range soon, so keep an eye out for it if you’re keen to give it a try! But for now, it remains an exclusive treat for a select few of our most savvy gin-loving customers. Cheers to everyone who will be enjoying a drop of L&C from the first batch, and here’s to many more!