Kent Spirit of the Year Winner: Damson Gin by Copper Rivet

DOCKYARD Gin® was created by distiller Abhi Banik and the Russell family in 2016 in their quest to bring true provenance, natural flavour and genuine craft to a gin category increasingly dominated by the mass-produced spirits of a few large manufacturers.

Lovingly crafted at Copper Rivet Distillery, which is located in a beautiful Victorian pumphouse in Chatham Dockyard, the result is a gin that is pure and smooth with a natural sweetness and delicate complexity that sets it apart from the rest of the category.

Damsons were first introduced to Britain in the Roman times. Early records show they were grown around Medway and were traded by a merchant located in the settlement of Strood, within five miles of our distillery. This provenance inspired us to make our Damson Gin.

We distil a special expression of Dockyard Gin and rest it with the pure juice of the harvested damsons in Virgin American oak barrels. We patiently wait to bottle our delicious Damson Gin until the time is right.

Here at Copper Rivet Distillery, we take pride in offering some of the UK’s only farm-to-glass vodka, whiskies and gins using only locally farmed, Kentish grain. Vela Vodka, Masthouse Whisky, Dockyard Gin, Kent Strawberry Gin and Damson Gin are all award-winning and equally delicious and complement a range of cocktail recipes.

Dirty Martini

A classic cocktail with a Vela Vodka twist:
• Take 50ml of Vela Vodka, 10ml vermouth and 20ml of olive brine
• Pour over ice into a stirring glass and stir for 30 seconds
• Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass
• Serve with three olives on a cocktail stick

Whiskey Highball

A delicious blend of whisky, ginger and apple makes
for an excellent, refreshing cocktail:
• Take 30ml of Masthouse Grain Whisky
• Mix in 60ml of a ginger ale of your choice with the whisky and pour over ice in a tall glass
• Squeeze some of the juice of a slice of lemon into the glass and then place the wedge into your beverage for garnish
• Finally, top the cocktail with 90ml of sparkling apple juice

Damson and Spiced Apple

A spiced apple mix pairs perfectly with our very own Dockyard Oak-Aged Damson Gin:
• Use a spiced apple juice, or infuse your favourite winter spices in warm apple juice for about 20 minutes to make your own
• Combine 200ml of the spiced juice with 60ml of our Dockyard Damson Gin
• Finally, garnish with spices such as star anise and cinnamon sticks for a wintry finishing touch

Winter Negroni

A near-perfect serve for our Dockyard Gin, this fruity concoction brings warmth to those chilly nights sat by the fire:
• Take the juice of two freshly-squeezed oranges
• Combine the juice with 85g of sugar and dissolve the sugar over a medium to low heat
• Bring the mixture to a simmer until thickened
• Combine 25ml of our Dockyard Gin, 25ml of Campari and 25ml of Sweet Vermouth and pour over ice
• Stir in the syrup mixture, and optionally add caramelised orange slices to finish