“THERE was a time in Belfast when the front door was left unlocked. When the kitchen was the scullery. And in the scullery stood the big sink. A lot of craic was heard around the old jawbox,” so says the description on the bottle of Jawbox ‘Belfast Cut’ Classic Dry Gin.
The drink was created to reflect something very special about Belfast – the real character of the city and its people. It is the first single-estate gin produced in Ireland – at the The Echlinville Distillery, Kircubbin, in the heartland of the Ards Peninsula. For a start, the makers actually grow their own grain, use water from their own well and distil their own spirit before adding fragrant botanicals such as Black Mountain heather, coriander seed and angelica root – this degree of control over the process is what gives Jawbox it’s unique character. It’s a classic gin that becomes more complex on the palate. Starts with citrus and juniper developing into pepper, green angelica and subtle rootiness.
The same meticulous approach is reflected in the images used to promote Jawbox – Belfast faces of real character captured by a traditional 1800’s technique called wet plate photography.It’s tricky and it takes time but the results are worth it – full of richness and detail – just like the taste of Jawbox itself. At £34.99 it’s not the cheapest on the market but it’s well worth it. It would also make a great gift for gin fans and for those with a passing interest in old Belfast.
n www.homedeliverywine.com
Wine of the Week
Craving the taste of summer already? Excite your tastebuds with Lambrini’s newest flavour, Ooh Passionfruit. This new wine is for those who love exotic flavours and is a light and fruity addition to the existing fruit variants; So Strawberry, Truly Peach and Very Cherry. Enjoy it chilled or try it in the Passionfruit Paradise cocktail.
Crush up enough ice cubes to fill a collins glass
Measure 25ml of gin, 20ml of sugar syrup and 15ml of fresh lime juice and add to the glass. Top with Lambrini Ooh Passionfruit and stir.Garnish with half a passion fruit and a lime wedge.
n Lambrini Ooh Passionfruit is available at
ASDA, £3.20 or 2 for £5.
