by ballyboes

The Cholmondeley Arms welcome more new gins to the fold………

The 82nd gin is called Sacred Gin, this is an aromatic and creamy gin with exceptional character. Each botanical is separately macerated and redistilled with English grain spirit at low temperatures, then combined according to a secret recipe, creating a lush and fresh London Dry Gin like no other.

Number 83 is Cold River Gin which is produced using alcohol made from Maine potatoes and a secret blend of seven traditional botanicals: juniper berries, coriander, lemon peel, orange peel, orris root, angelica root and cardamom. The recipe dates back to the early days of British gin. Good taste is about balance and it is the balance of the botanicals that makes Cold River Gin one of the world’s most exquisite gins.

Number 84 is Monkey 47 a dry gin with a strong body, very aromatic, with notes of pine needles, juniper berries, herbs, citrus flavours and floral nuances.

Number 85 is the familiar name of Ketel 1 which has been associated with vodka for many a year the flavour characteristics are due to the distillation method, in which the second distillation is completed with juniper berries and herbs. This gin is clear and transparent, with aromas of juniper berries and malt, providing a fresh taste and shows the pedigree we expect from Ketel.

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 by ballyboes

Tim brings gin to the Inn!!!

The 81st Gin to grace the shelves of the Cholmondeley Arms is being personally delivered by our owner Tim. While having a much needed (some say deserved) break in Donegal in the northwest of the Emerald Isle he picked up  a bottle of the legendary Cork Gin. Tim’s pictured outside his favourite pub (after the three he owns of course!!!) The Glen Bar or ‘Marys of the Glen’ as it is famously known, situated in the village of Glen……………  a true pub!!!

The last time Tim was pictured outside this pub was when he brought back a bottle of Powers Whiskey for the Bulls Head in Mobberley where there are over 70 whiskies on sale. It is becoming a bit of a tradition each year standing outside the Glen Bar with a bottle of something….”the locals think I’m mad” says Tim…they are probably right too!!! So hopefully by the weekend the Cork Gin will have arrived here at ‘the Chum’!!!

Cork Dry Gin is the number one selling gin in Ireland. Its combination of juniper berry, lemon, lime, coriander and Cork Dry Gin’s mystery ingredient give it its uniquely refreshing flavour profile explaining why 8 out of 10 gin drinks consumed in pubs is a Cork Dry Gin.

The distinctive square bottle is an icon of Irish design and can probably be found in almost every drinks-cabinet in Ireland. Cork Dry Gin was awarded top points (4 ½ stars out of 5) in a recent tasting conducted by ‘Wine Ireland’ magazine.

Cork Dry Gin was first distilled at the Watercourse Distillery in Cork City in 1793 and the closely guarded recipe notes were transcribed in 1798, by apprentice distiller, William Coldwell Cork was uniquely located for the distilling of gin with plump grains from the fields of East Cork and exotic botanicals arriving to Cork’s bustling international port.

The watercourse Distillery was located on the River Kiln which possessed minerals suited to the production of a gin. There’s nothing quite like a refreshing Cork Dry Gin and tonic as a refreshing aperitif. The question remains will the Gin arrive intact!!!??

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 by ballyboes

Cholmondeley thanks James Chase.

Wednesday night was a special evening here at Cholmondeleyas James Chase, son of founder William Chase, came to speak about their famous Apple Gin distilled in Herefordshire at the Chase Distillery along with the now world famous Chase Vodka. Winner of the best Vodka at the San Francisco Drinks Competition a few years back.

James, who is the marketing director of ‘William Chase’ talked passionately about gin, its history and how it is core to the future distilling at Chase. Attendees at the talk all learnt a little more about gin and sampled a superb Chase Gin and Fever tree tonic garnished with apple and served with ice of course. A miniature version of this fantastic gin was also presented to each and every one who attended so they could savour more gin at home or indeed hang on to as a reminder of the evening.

On the night our Stru “Gin-troduced” the new ‘Gin-troduction’ tray (pictured) which is for two or three persons to share to introduce them to the varying tastes of different gins with different tonic and garnishes too. This will sell for £15.00 (so a ‘fiver’ each really) and gives you three gins to sample….. Berkeley Square Gin, Brockmans Gin and of course William Chase Gin. All are very different and I don’t want to reveal too much as we look forward to you trying them and telling us what you think.

Also launched on the night was Struan’s Cholmondeley Martini. Stirred not shaken, this Martini (Pictured below) is a classic using the Spanish ‘Gin Mare’ whose ‘botanicals’ include fresh basil, Olives, Thyme and Rosemary. It is finished with a smidgen of Noilly Prat then ice chilled and garnished with an olive and sprig of thyme!!

Thanks to Struan for making the Martini ‘live’ in front of the gin audience!!!

What a ‘pro’ he is!!

Also a massive thanks to James Chase, who I have to say is so enthusiastic about his Gin it made for a refreshing evening in more ways than one!!!

He did confess that he used to come to Cholmondeley as a boy and could not believe how much the pub had changed since our recent restoration work.

Thanks too to everyone who attended.

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 by ballyboes

Gins number 79 and 80 arrive from Scotland

Old Raj gin has arrived at the ‘Chum’ all the way from bonny Scotland and the William Cadenhead distillery. The gins have just picked up a silver award at the San Francisco Spirits Competition. Cadenhead’s Old Raj Gin is distinctive in that it contains a measure of saffron, the rare and costly spice derived from the crocus flower. In addition to a slightly spicy flavour, this also imparts a pale yellow colour to Old Raj. The addition of saffron is undertaken personally by the Company Chairman in order to ensure a consistency in flavour and colour each time Old Raj is bottled.

The difference between the colours is simply strength with the Blue sitting at 55% abv!! So to now hit the 80 gin mark after being open six months is a great effort from Stru and Steve our ‘Gin champions’ and our suppliers too for supporting our Cholmondeley Gin Palace.

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 by ballyboes

Gin number 77 and number 78 arrive!!!!

After being open just 5 months the Chum has almost doubled its Gin collection on the back bar!!! Struan our Gin Champion at the Chum welcomed gin number 77 and number 78 today as you can see from the photo.

Oxley is a revolutionary English Gin with a fresh, bright, smooth classic gin taste. Oxley is made from an innovative cold distillation process. Cold distillation occurs at -5c capturing the natural flavours of the botanicals and preserving them in the final spirit.

Finsbury is distilled with juniper berries, exotic fruits, herbs and spices according to an elaborate method from the 18th century. The recipe is a well-kept secret and unchanged to this day. Finsbury is a particularly fine and mild representative of the flavour “London Dry Gin’, preferred both internationally and in Great Britain. Finsbury Gin has a rich aroma with a fine and elegant bouquet and is ideal for many popular long drinks and cocktails, including the great world classics; Gin and Tonic, Singapore Sling and Dry Martini. The 47 comes from its strength 47% abv!!

G&T anybody!!!??

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 by ballyboes

The Chum leads the way with ‘Gin at the Inn’

I now see how ahead of things we were by dedicating our back bar here at the Cholmondeley Arms to the great English favourite Gin (and Tonic).

Everywhere I look there is coverage of a gin revival. We opened with 40 different gins and presented to the customer a ‘Gin Bible’ to help educate and influence experimentation by giving choice. We held our Amateur annual gin making competition in Sloe and Damson Gins in December and we now have a gin evening arranged during our forthcoming Cheshire Game week on 15th February 2012 where “William Chase Gin” distiller James Chase will be talking through the ‘farm based’ distillery that followed the success of Tyrells Crisps brought about by James’s father William.

Naturally gin will be tasted and discussions will ensue at what promises to be one of many gin nights to happen here at the ‘Chum’

We have grown to 80 gins on the back bar and are now the biggest purveyor of Gin outside London!!!

Also on the 15th Steve and Stru will be launching (finally) the ‘Stirred not Shaken’ Cholmondeley Gin Martini and also their “Gintroduction” board!!!

Coupled on the night with Christians Cheshire Game stew cooked with junipers and William Chase Gin cured Salmon on a savoury apple scone and fennel coleslaw it promises to be a great evening!!

Please ring Steve for further details. Below is an article written by Mike Wendling of BBC Radio Four which gives an insight into the growth of the ‘micro-distiller’. Interesting stuff indeed!!

To download the article “Gin is the tonic for a creative boom in the drinks business” click here.

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 by ballyboes

Local Louis is our Annual Gin Appreciation Champion!!!

The crowds flocked to the Cholmondeley Arms on Tuesday evening for the first (and by no means last!!) Annual Gin Appreciation Championship!! Sixteen Gins featured from the Sloe variety to the Damson variety. I am told by Bob and Louis from Brockman’s Gin, (who sponsored the event) that the quality of the Gin was really ‘top drawer’!!

As I write this update I am still waiting for Steve our Cholmondeley Landlord to emerge from the judging!!! He had to lie down afterwards for some reason!!!

I am joking of course we are just waiting for photos but I can declare that our very loyal customer Louis (not to be mixed up with Brockman’s Gin Louis) won the Championship with what the judges called  a Gin that would rival Plymouths Damson gin!!! Louis proudly calls his ‘special blend’ of gin ‘the Hounds testicles’ or words along those lines!!!

In second was Richard’s ‘killing me sloe –ly’ Gin (the name alone is a winner!!!) and finally in joint third was Sarah’s special reserve and Tony’s Herb gin!!! Congratulations to everyone.

Louis was presented with his own unique crystal Gin glass which will be engraved with his name and will take pride of place on our back bar ready for Louis to use when he visits us.  Louis also wins a bottle of Brockman’s and a trip to the distillery where Brockman’s is distilled.

We would like to thank everyone who took part at very short notice when considering the gin making process and Steve for setting it up and the team for helping him.

A big thank you to Bob and Louis from Brockman’s for all their help!!

Pictures will follow soon but here’s one of Steve and Brockman’s Louis getting to grips with the judging!!!

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 by ballyboes

Bring Inn the Gin

Here at the Cholmondeley Arms we are building a fine reputation for our famous Gin collection. We opened with forty Gins and are rapidly moving to the fifty mark already. The expansion of Gin distilling and the creation of different gin types is growing and already we are planning volume two of our ‘Gin Bible’.

While reviewing our growing Gin collection we all came up with a great idea. We have many customers who like gin, who also like to travel and may find gins we don’t stock on those travels…. so…….we have come up with ‘Bring Inn the Gin’ and here’s what you have to do.

  1. Find a gin and make sure we don’t stock it.
  2. Buy the Gin and keep the receipt, this can be in Sterling, Euros (while they last!!) and American dollars
  3. Bring the Gin to the Inn.
  4. Present the gin and if we don’t stock it already we will pay you the value of your receipt. (The seal on the bottle must be intact of course)
  5. As a bonus we will also give you a £10 Cholmondeley gift voucher for each bottle of gin brought Inn!!
  6. So for the new ‘Gin Supplier’ it’s a ‘win, win’ on the ‘gin, gin’.

So what are you waiting for all you budding gin suppliers!!?? Tim, Steve and Stru are waiting!!! 100 Gins by our first anniversary???

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