Tanqueray’s former master distiller to ‘develop new gin’

by Annie Hayes

Former master distiller for Tanqueray, Tom Nichol, is said to be producing a new gin with Kansas-based distillery J. Rieger & Co.

Nichol, who has more than 40 years of experience in the distilling industry, is said to be collaborating with the distillery due to a "friend of a friend of a friend situation", according to a report by Kansas City Business Journal. According to the report, Rieger's business partner Ryan Maybee is a colleague of spirits consultant Steve Olson, who is "good friends" with Nichol. Andy Rieger, owner and operator of J. Rieger & Co told the publication: "Once we found out Tom was going to retire we started working to get him to come here to Kansas City to talk to us about a partnership. "He flew out here and apparently he really liked us. He'll probably come here twice a year and we'll send him samples whenever he wants. Really this is a signature product that he's always had in his head and wanted to make. Now, he can actually do that here. We aren't ever going to tell him no. Why would we?" According to the report, the company has already bought the ingredients and botanicals necessary to make the gin, and are just awaiting Nichol's arrival – said to be scheduled for August. He will work with J. Rieger & Co's distiller Nathan Perry, a former microbiologist for Boulevard Brewing Co, to create the new spirit. Earlier this year, Nichol was honoured with The Gin Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award.