Supplier focus: Brennen & Brown

Fresh on the back of the launch of our Old Stocks Ginn, we wanted to shine the spotlight on the distillery that helped us create it. Here, Master Distiller Joanne Hazlett and Commercial Manager Dee Gogia of Cheltenham-based Brennen & Brown answer our questions….

Tell us about your partnership with the Old Stocks Inn, and how it led to the creation of the gin?

We’ve known the lovely guys at The Old Stocks for several years now and whenever we’re in or passing through Stow, we always pop in for a drink.

They’ve been a customer of our Core gins for a while and in fact, our classic London Dry Gin was Pete’s house pour! Pete had mentioned to me that he’d love to make his own gin one day and that’s how The Old Stocks Ginn was born!

What is the process that goes into creating a new gin?

We like to have a really good chat with our clients first to find out what they want to do with their own bespoke gin. For example, does it need to be a good all-rounder? Are they going to be making cocktails, or is it just for making a great G&T?

We then move on to any flavour ideas they have. I always love this bit as it gives me a great starting point for their gin. I take lots and lots of notes as this really helps me when it comes to making the samples. We also go through the style of bottles they want and the label design, which we print in-house.

To make the gin, I spend a lot of time doing research on the flavours our customers are looking for.

I have numerous and amazing flavour books I use, and I call on all the skills I learnt when I was a chocolatier to blend botanical flavours together.

I then make a sample for the client to try, just the one to start with, as I like to know if I’m heading in the right direction as to what they are looking for.

After they have tried it, we can make any tweaks or go ahead and start distilling their bespoke gin.

How would you describe the Old Stocks Ginn?

I really enjoyed making The Old Stocks Ginn, the distillery smelt amazing! I love the pine note coming from the juniper, it’s got some fantastic herbal notes from bay and oregano and a lovely citrus note running through it from the orange peel.

As Christmas approaches, what would you say to someone considering purchasing a bottle of the Old Stocks Ginn?

If you want a classic London Dry G&T with a citrus and herbaceous twist, a classic dry Martini or a beautiful sweet and sour Negroni, then the Old Stocks Ginn is the go-to all-rounder. Made and crafted by hand in small batches.

The Old Stocks Ginn can be purchased by either dropping in to the Old Stocks Inn’s reception, or by emailing info@oldstocksinn.com. Bottles are priced at £40 plus postage and packaging.