THE GIN PASSPORT ATLAS - DISTILLERY STORY- PINNED ON THE MAP - EUROPE

We have all heard of the Battle of Hastings, but here's a little historical technicality for you: the battle didn't actually take place in Hastings.


On 14 October 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, and his army met King Harold's English forces at a site about seven miles from Hastings. The town that eventually grew around the battlefield was appropriately named Battle.


It was one of the most significant battles in English history. Harold was killed, William won the throne and the Norman Conquest began. The English put up a pretty good fight, too, but William's troops eventually turned the tide, helped by a rather sneaky tactic involving Norman soldiers pretending to flee, encouraging the English to break formation and give chase.

It worked.


Fast forward several centuries and the Hastings area had another rather different claim to fame: smuggling.

The Sussex coast was ideally positioned for clandestine trade across the English Channel. During the 18th century, smuggling became widespread, with contraband including tea, spirits, tobacco and other goods being brought ashore to avoid hefty customs duties.

The infamous Hawkhurst Gang became one of the most notorious organised smuggling groups of the period.


Although gangs such as this were involved in moving and distributing contraband, the whole operation depended on a much wider network of smugglers, boatmen, fishermen and people prepared to turn a blind eye.

Moonlit nights, secluded beaches and a coastline facing France made Sussex rather useful territory for anyone wanting to move goods without troubling the Customs man.


Smuggling gradually declined during the early 19th century as changes to taxation and excise duties made the trade less profitable.  You could say the smugglers eventually lost their competitive advantage.

H&H have taken inspiration from this rather colourful piece of Sussex history with their Smugglers Gin, bottled at a punchy 47% ABV.



Much like those clear moonlit nights that would have helped smugglers navigate the Channel, the gin arrives in a beautifully clear bottle. The liquid may look innocent enough, but at 47% it certainly doesn't hang around quietly.


This is a gin with plenty of botanical punch, delivering bittersweet flavours, warming spice and a good dose of juniper. It is definitely not one I'd want to bury beneath a mountain of tonic.

For me, the obvious place to showcase it was a Martini.


Naturally, I couldn't resist giving mine a slightly sneaky twist.




SMUGGLERS MARTINI

60ml Hastings Smugglers Gin
15ml Lillet Blanc
5ml Blue Curaçao

Stir with plenty of ice and strain into a chilled Martini glass.

The Lillet softens the punch of the gin while the tiny splash of blue curaçao adds a hint of sweetness and, more importantly, makes the drink look rather spectacular.


It may not be quite as clandestine as a barrel of contraband being unloaded on a Sussex beach under cover of darkness, but it does make for a rather good drink.


Just don't tell the Customs man.

"FROM 1066 TO MOONLIT RUNS ACROSS THE CHANNEL"




Show me a bottle and

I'll tell you a story.




Atlas Note:  Smugglers gin is bottled at 47% which is below the traditional 57% definition of Navy Strength Gin, so this gin should not be confused with other navy strength gins.