THE GIN PASSPORT ATLAS - DISTILLERY STORY- PINNED ON THE MAP - EUROPE
LAND OF SAINTS GIN, Cornwall, England, UK
Cornwall - the Land of Saints
If you assumed this was a coastal gin, you would be very wrong!
The beautiful turquoise bottle and map of Cornwall on the label might have you expecting salty sea air and coastal botanicals, but Land of Saints takes a rather different route. This is a gin celebrating the floral and botanical side of Cornwall.
The name comes from Cornwall’s long association with Christianity. Between the 5th and 7th centuries, Cornwall became home to a remarkable number of saints, missionaries, hermits and monks, giving rise to its enduring nickname, the Land of Saints.
Land of Saints was created by Mike and Sue Bearcroft, who moved to Cornwall in 2016. Inspired by the landscape around them and increasingly concerned about the impact we are having on the planet, they set out to create an organic Cornish gin with an environmental and charitable purpose.
The result was launched in October 2019 as a social enterprise, with the aim of producing a good gin while doing some good along the way. The company partnered with Fauna & Flora International, the world's oldest international conservation charity, and has committed a contribution from every bottle sold to support its work.
I rather like that the environmental message isn't simply something printed on the back of the bottle. Organic ingredients, responsible production and charitable giving are all part of the story.
The gin is made using 13 organic botanicals, alongside juniper, and is distilled with Cornish water and organic grain. The botanical lineup includes coriander seed, cardamom, pink peppercorn, ginger, rose bud, hyssop, orange peel, chamomile, violet leaf, blueberry, nutmeg and orris root.
It is the floral character that surprised me most. This isn't a gin shouting “Cornwall!” through a mouthful of seaweed and samphire. Instead, it is smooth, fresh and citrus-led, with gentle floral notes and a beautifully balanced juniper finish.
The gin is produced and bottled at Black & Gold Organic Distillery in Ponsanooth, a family-owned Cornish distillery that specialises in organic spirits. The distillery is certified biodynamic and continues to produce a range of organic gins and vodka, using sustainable practices wherever possible.
The bottle itself is rather lovely. Turquoise, with its Cornish map and distinctive label, it certainly catches the eye. There is plenty of personality without resorting to the usual clichés of seaside gin.
I wanted my first serve to celebrate those beautiful botanicals, so I went for a Saintly Gimlet.
Land of Saints may have been created with a serious environmental purpose, but thankfully it doesn't take itself too seriously. Ultimately, it is a good gin with a good story — and that's exactly the sort of bottle I like to discover.
"A Cornish gin with a conscience"
SAINTLY GIMLET
50ml Land of Saints Organic Gin
25ml St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
35ml freshly squeezed lime juice
10ml simple syrup
10–15ml Lanique Rose Liqueur
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled glass.
The elderflower and rose work beautifully with the floral character of the gin, while the fresh lime keeps everything bright and refreshing. It is a rather lovely contrast to the richer, more complex flavours in the bottle.