Thames – Timbermill

Introduction:

Simon Ford, the creator of Fords Gin, took a unique approach to crafting its flavor profile. He focused on popular gin cocktails and carefully selected nine botanicals that would complement each other aromatically. For example, considering a Negroni cocktail that includes Campari, Fords Gin incorporates ingredients like orris root, orange, and grapefruit, which harmonize well with the flavors of the cocktail. The other botanicals in Fords Gin include juniper, coriander, angelica root, lemon, cassia bark, and jasmine flowers.

Barentsz Gin, named after the Dutch navigator Willem Barentsz, is primarily characterized by the aroma of Chinese jasmine flowers. The gin pays homage to Barentsz’s exploration of a trade route to China through the Arctic in the late 16th century. The botanicals used in Barentsz Gin are sourced from specific countries, including orange peel and almonds from Spain, coriander seeds from Romania/Bulgaria, liquorice from China, cassia bark from Indonesia, and angelica and orris root from Poland and Italy, respectively. These botanicals contribute to the distinct flavors and aromas of the gin.

Oxley London Dry Gin distinguishes itself from traditional distillation methods by utilizing a cold distillation technique. Instead of heating the gin, Oxley Gin is significantly cooled down in the still. This allows the producers to use fresh, frozen citrus peels as botanicals, rather than dried ones. Alongside the citrus peels and juniper, Oxley Gin incorporates 14 undisclosed botanicals. Bottled at 47% ABV, Oxley Gin is produced in small batches and each bottle is individually numbered, reflecting its artisanal nature.

The Production:

Charles Maxwell serves as the Master Distiller at Thames Distillers, bringing his extensive expertise in gin distilling with over 40 years of experience. He continues a family tradition in the field that spans four centuries and seven previous generations, with the family’s involvement in gin production tracing back to the 17th century at Timbermill Distillery. Now in the eighth generation, Charles carries on this rich legacy.

In the production of Fords Gin, the nine dried botanicals are first steeped in the stills for a period of 15 hours. This allows the botanicals to soften and release more flavors before the distillation process begins. The extended maceration period of 15 hours enhances the extraction of oils from the botanicals, resulting in a robust and creamy gin. Fords Gin is then distilled in Coffey stills named Tom Thumb and Thumbelina, specially crafted for Thames Distillers by renowned English still manufacturer Jon Dore. Each still has a capacity of 500 liters, with 200 liters of Fords Gin produced in each batch. The distilled gin is later transported to California, where it is blended with regional spring water and bottled in Mendocino County.

Barentsz Gin stands out with its base spirit composed of rye and winter wheat. This base spirit imparts a soft character, allowing the fresh botanicals to take center stage and ensuring that the gin can be enjoyed neat without any additional mixers.

Oxley Gin, as previously mentioned, undergoes a unique “cold distillation” process. The still operates at temperatures below freezing (-5°C), creating a vacuum that causes the spirit to “boil” and rise into the condenser. In the condenser, which reaches – 127°C, the vaporized contents of the still liquefy once again. The cold temperatures enable the use of fresh botanicals instead of dried ones, resulting in more pronounced aromas. After distillation, Oxley Gin can be directly bottled without the need for a resting period, preserving the vibrant flavors of the freshly distilled spirit.

History:

In 1996, Charles Maxwell established Thames Distillers in southeast London, naming it after the renowned river that flows through the heart of the English capital. Since then, the Maxwell family has operated Thames Distillers and Timbermill distillery as a family – run business. Their unique business model involves collaborating with customers to develop gin recipes and subsequently producing them on a contract basis. This includes overseeing the entire process, from distillation to bottling and packaging.

Through this approach, Thames Distillers has built an impressive portfolio of approximately 60 gins that are produced in their facilities. In addition to well-known gins like Oxley, Barentsz, and Fords mentioned earlier, they also produce smaller batches tailored to individual bars. This flexibility allows them to cater to a diverse range of gin brands and develop bespoke spirits according to their customers’ specifications.

By combining their expertise in gin production with a collaborative approach, Thames Distillers has established itself as a prominent player in the gin industry, providing contract distillation services and delivering a wide variety of gins to the market.

Visitor Centre:

The Timbermill distillery is not open to the public.

Visitor information:

Thames Distillers
Timbermill Way
Gauden Road
London SW4 6LY
Tel: +44 207720 4747
Email: info@thamesdistillers.co.uk