THIS June, all eyes will be on Fenwick Newcastle’s Northumberland Street window once again as The Moorland Spirit Co.’s Hepple Gin takes it over in the name of the summer’s most talked about event in the region.
From Thursday 28 June to Sunday 1 July, for the first time customers will be able to enter the famous window to enjoy an immersive gin experience, inspired by The GreatExhibition of the North.
The exclusive Fenwick x Hepple Gin Window Experience will take up residence in the window against a botany-filled backdrop of juniper bushes and wild plants. Over the four days, ticketholders will be treated to an intimate four-stage gin experience delivered by experts in their craft.
Each session will begin with an introduction to Hepple Gin from Walter Riddell, the distillery’s ‘Keeper & Cultivator of the Land’ in the heart of its Northumbrian Moors surroundings, while guests enjoy a taster Simonside Special gin cocktail.
This will be followed by a vacuum still demonstration, a talk bringing to life the various stages of distillation and a cocktail masterclass, where enthusiasts will learn how to make two classic gin-based cocktails, a Martini and a White Lady.
Once the art of mixology has been mastered, guests can relax at the bar within the window and enjoy their two cocktails. Exclusive discounts on Hepple Gin cocktails in Fuego and bottles in the Wine Room will also be available for attendees.
Rhys McKinnell, Director of Restaurants at Fenwick, said: “We’re privileged to have some of the finest spirit makers operating in the North currently. Inspired by the GreatExhibition of the North we’re delighted to bring this showcase of craft skills and innovation to Fenwick. Demand from our customers for new and unique gin products continues to soar and so, as part of our event programme this summer, we have partnered with popular local drinks producer The Moorland Spirit Co. to host the ultimate gin experience within the iconic Fenwick window. For four days only we’re looking forward to bringing theatre of a different kind to Northumberland Street as we allow customers for the first time to step inside our famous window.”
Hepple Gin, produced by Moorland Spirit Co. in its small namesake village in rural Northumberland, is a wild spirit using a combination of botanicals and native green juniper from the land around the distillery. It is result of a unique and experimental ‘Triple Technique’ distilling process developed by the team.
Born out of a pursuit to create the definitive Martini gin, it is known for its quenching citrus flavour at first sip which evolves into both sweet and savoury notes on finish, including blackcurrant, cedar and sandalwood.
Since launching Hepple Gin in October 2015, Moorland Spirit Co. has won the prestigious Double Gold Award at the San Francisco Spirits Awards in 2017 to add to its first Gold medal in 2016. It has recently been named a finalist in the Best Drinks Producer category of the BBC Food & Farming Awards.
Walter Riddell from Moorland Spirit Co. said: “This is one of the most exciting and experimental projects The Moorland Spirit Co. have been involved with to date. We are excited to be working with a retailer as prestigious as Fenwick as well as being a part of the magnificent Great Exhibition of the North. We are looking forward to sharing a flavour of the Northumberland moors, explaining the unique techniques our distillery uses and most of all showing customers how we bring a taste of the wilds into Hepple Gin.”
The Hepple Gin Experience will run in slots of 75 minutes for a group of 15 people between 12pm and 6.45pm. Priced at £25, tickets will include the Hepple Gin Experience, plus a half price Hepple cocktail at Fuego and £5 off a bottle of Hepple Gin from the Food Hall Wine Room.
For tickets and more information visit www.fenwick.co.uk/hepple