Here at Hand Crafted Drinks Magazine we were intrigued when we received a press release from a distillery claiming to be producing gin at the most southerly distillery on the planet.
However, having looked in to see which actually is the most southern distillery, we found that the McHenry Distillery in Tasmania stated on its website that it is the most southerly distillery in the world.
Perhaps it was. At 43 degrees south, it is remote, but Stanley on the Falkland Islands, where Tumbledown Distillery is based, is at 51.6 degrees south (the higher the number the further south, until you reach Antarctica at 90 degrees south).
The latitude of the city of Ushuaia in the Tierra del Fuego province of Argentina is 54 degrees south, but there are no well-known or prominent distilleries, so we would suggest that the title of the world’s most southerly distillery should be conferred on Tumbledown Distillery.
Fortunately, gin drinkers in the UK don’t have to venture far to enjoy what is billed as a ‘gin like no other’, because the distillery’s Tumbledown Gin is now available in the UK, which meant that samples could be sent out and we were delighted when two 50ml bottles of Tumbledown Gin arrived.
Everyone in the office agreed that this is an excellent gin — smooth, amazing mouthfeel and a pepperiness that delivers a subtle kick of heat, but which was never unpleasant.
The botanicals are very much evident, including the essential juniper, which have been perfectly balanced, and the finish reinforces the smoothness and quality of this memorable spirit. The only disappointment was when there was nothing left for us to sample.
But, what led to the establishment of a distillery on the Falkland Islands, nearly 8,000 miles away on one of the most remote group of islands in the world?
The Falkland Islands is a British Overseas Territory with a population of just 2,800, where Tumbledown Distillery produces micro-batch gin using foraged local botanicals, harvested by hand from the wild, untamed landscape.
Founded by Taff Davies, a Falklands veteran and former Royal Marine, the distillery carries deep personal history. Taff’s daughter, Sian, was born during the conflict, while her great-grandmother, Mary Goodwin, tragically lost her life as a result of shelling.
What began as a hobby — distilling in his garage — has grown into a labour of love, producing some of the rarest and most sought-after spirits on earth.
Each small-batch distillation (often as little as 70 litres at a time) captures the essence of the islands, using pure island water, drawn from Mount Tumbledown, and botanicals foraged in the wilds of the Falklands, including Scurvy Grass.
Until very recently, Tumbledown’s spirits were only available to locals and intrepid visitors. But, after two years of negotiations, with the help of Isle of Man government departments, fellow director John Hellowell (a long-time Falklands resident and conservationist) secured a unique export arrangement – their hand-crafted spirits would be shipped to the UK by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
Commenting on their gin, John Hellowell said: “We aren’t trying to compete with supermarket gin; this is a product of isolation, resilience and craftsmanship – something that could only be made in the Falklands.”
Tumbledown Gin is now available in extremely limited quantities via an exclusive online platform based in the Isle of Man. Their gin is not mass market — it’s a collector’s treasure, a connoisseur’s dream and a testament to human perseverance.
For more information visit: www.falklandislandsspirits.com