Tasting Notes for Sipsmith Raffles 1915
Nose: Baked apple, coriander, lemongrass, cardamon and grapefruit.
Taste: Dry and spicy. Piney juniper, sweet lime zest and a complex array of spice with a nutty roundness.
Finish: Cinnamon, zesty lime and black pepper with a lingering sweetness.
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A timeless classic in the making, with delicately spiced botanicals, it is an embodiment of the Raffles legend as being an oasis for the well-travelled, and the beating heart of Singapore during the golden age of exotic travel and cocktail innovation – an experience travellers continue to seek out and treasure to this day.
Created by Head Distiller Oliver Kitson to mark 100 years of the Singapore Sling at Raffles, and to inspire a new generation of bartenders to take up the mantle set by famed bartender Ngiam Tong Boon – creator of the original Singapore Sling – the newly developed Raffles 1915 Gin marks a new chapter in the history of this most illustrious of cocktails.
Handcrafted at the Sipsmith Distillery in London, available from selected Singaporean retailers, the recipe is a sensational balance of Malaysian botanicals – jasmine flowers, fresh pomelo peel, lemongrass, Kaffir lime leaf, nutmeg and cardamom – distilled alongside some of the classic gin botanicals found in the award-winning Sipsmith London Dry Gin. The resulting taste is a smooth and full-bodied spirit, with the warmth of sweet orange spice coupled with an elegant, bright, balanced finish.
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The Sipsmith tale begins with two childhood friends, Sam Galsworthy and Fairfax Hall, with a life-long affection for things well made…and Martinis. Before long, they had been introduced to renowned drinks aficionado Jared Brown at a Negroni party (of all places) and before the evening was out he was ready to join them on their mission to create the world’s best London Dry Gin.
The founders faced a rather unexpected obstacle at the start of their venture – and it arrived in the form of a historic, British law. An excise act still in effect from 1823 made it impossible for distillers to obtain a licence for a still under 1,800 litres, and their shiny new still was only 300 litres. Yet, with persistent passion, unwavering vision (and some Dutch Courage, no doubt), their petition led to the law being changed in 2008. The gin-aissance was born and the spirit was once again crafted in genuinely small, characterful batches.
The Three Musketeers shared the same vision: to smith an uncompromising London Dry Gin, the way it used to be made, the way it should be made. Patience was key when mastering their craftsmanship, as well as a heathy dose of hard graft and a distinctive flair. On the 14th March 2009, the final recipe was made with our first still, Prudence. ‘Sipsmith’ the gin and the brand was born, inspired by the smithery you can savour with every sip.
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Producer Sipsmith Distillery Style London Dry Gin Volume 70CL ABV 43%