Whitley Neill releases bacon and horseradish gin

Halewood Artisanal Spirits-owned Whitley Neill has unveiled a limited edition savoury gin.

The expression features unique, unexpected flavours of smoky bacon and a hot horseradish kick. Though it is made with natural flavouring, it does not contain bacon, so is suitable for vegetarians. Poppy Williams, group marketing manager at Halewood Artisanal Spirits, said: “We’ve seen a big increase in the popularity of savoury flavours in the UK on-trade over the past couple of years, from Martinis made with Parmesan, aged in balsamic barrels or even infused with umami flavours of porcini mushrooms. “As consumers continue to seek out these unique flavours, we’ve created this full-flavoured Smoky Bacon & Horseradish Gin to tap into this growing trend.” Whitley Neill describes the gin as ‘perfect for elevating classic brunch cocktails such as the Red Snapper, mixed with tomato juice for a simple serve, or even adding a bold, savoury twist to a Martini’. The release joins a rising trend of savoury spirits, including Portobello Road’s mushroom vodka. We predicted that savoury cocktails would be a key trend for 2024. Founded by distiller Johnny Neill in 2005, the Whitley Neill brand dates back to 1762. Its home is in the award-winning City of London distillery. Today, its range features more than 15 artisanal gins, including its flagship London Dry gin and other flavoured gins, such as rhubarb and ginger, and blood orange and raspberry flavours. Bottled at 45% ABV, Whitley Neill Smoky Bacon and Horseradish Gin retails at £21. Last year, the brand made headlines for hiding £25,000 (US$31,796) worth of diamonds in its bottles. The campaign was to ‘reignite’ the tradition of passing down heirlooms, after research revealed nearly half (42%) of UK adults don’t plan to leave one to family or friends.