There are enough pubs in Brighton to drink in a different one every day of the year, so this is a place that likes its booze and its partying! Aside from all this, what better way is there to enjoy a Brighton G&T than having it on the beach with some mates in the summer or snuggling up under a blanket with a flask of mulled Brighton Gin in winter? Kathy Caton: The idea for Brighton Gin came to me as an absolute light-bulb moment. I was out for a seafront run, the morning after a very late night on the gins (Plymouth Gin to be precise) dancing around a friend’s kitchen table – I got thinking that if I’d been drinking anything other than gin, I wouldn’t have been off my sofa, let alone going for a run! But more romantically, Brighton Gin is distilled in a pub in Brighton. Designed to capture the romance that is quintessentially Brighton, the Milk Thistle, even if it won’t cure/prevent your hangover, is native to the region of England from where it is distilled. #place Tasting Notes Kathy: Ellie was pretty much the first person to hear me banging on about wanting to make Brighton Gin eight years ago and it’s a delight to work with her every day. And the job title? Mainly because of the look on Ellie’s face when we discussed her being Head of Sales!

Lovely juniper nose, with an earthy, slightly musky, floral warmth and angelica underneath that. Fairly concentrated nose, mostly in the top. Slight earthiness below, but rather quiet after first blush. If you want to give a tour as a present to your loved ones (or yourself!), scroll down further for the link to our gift vouchers!Our distillery tour involves a hands on experience of Brighton Gin’s production process - you can wax your own bottle, design and apply your own label and take home your own customised Brighton Gin miniature, too! We only use certified 100% organic pure wheat spirit – super smooth, and without any of the nasties that can give you a sore and sorry head – which we re-distill with juniper, fresh orange and lime peel, locally-grown coriander seed (the first UK commercially grown coriander seed in over 200 years) and milk thistle, which is indigenous to the South Downs and renowned for its kindness to the liver function. But don’t just take our word for it – it won an Outstanding at the IWSC 2022, Gold at the Nordic Spirits Awards 2020, and the Craft Distilling Expo named it their Navy Gin of the Year!

Exceptionally smooth mouth-feel, warmth from the juniper, followed by gentle smooth citrus and distinct orange and lime notes Brighton Ginwas born of a passion for gin, and a passion for the place where we live and play - we wanted to create a gin that embodied the spirit of Brighton: unusual, playful and fiercely independent. I also love that gin is now enjoyed across the gender and age spectrum. When I was at university, a hundred years ago, I was laughed at for drinking gin as “that’s my nan’s drink”. It’s now enjoyed across the generations, all drinking it in different ways, and it doesn’t have that perceived gender barrier that, say, single malt whisky does.

GG: You have no factory production lines and bottles are filled by hand. How long does it take to produce a bottle of gin and how labour intensive is it? Brighton Ginis made with 100% organic grain spirit, juniper, fresh orange and lime peel, locally-grown coriander seed and milk thistle. Each bottle is filled, labelled and wax sealed by hand, the distinctive blue/green colour being that ofBrighton’s famous seafront railings.

Our Brighton Gin Seaside Navy Strength Gin has dropped anchor for good time gulls and buoys everywhere!In true Brighton Gin tradition, each bottle is filled, waxed and labelled by hand, topped off with our distinctive wax seal, this time in Navy Blue. Brighton Gin is vegan certified, including the waxed bottle tops, and our distillation process also means it’s gluten free. What is navy gin? Enjoy Brighton Gin in a classic G&T, great for any time of year. We recommend a splash of premium tonic, plenty of fresh ice and a slice of fresh orange to garnish to bring out the citrus notes in the Pavilion Strength.

GG: You have been working with Ellie since the outset and she is Chief Gin Peddler for the business – why did you choose this title? Each bottle is filled, labelled and wax sealed by hand, the distinctive blue/green colour being that of Brighton’s famous seafront railings. Kathy and Helen worked on the gin in the early mornings and late evenings between their day jobs and soon found that the realities of craft distilling included 8am tasting sessions of still warm gin from the previous night’s distillation! Their distillation licence was granted on 11 June 2014 and they moved into new premises in a single-windowed room under the Urchin pub in Hove. GG: Being an award-winning freelance broadcaster, producer and presenter, how do you find the time to make gin?It was a fun experience, ideal as a gift or for anyone simply interested in learning about the gin-making process. Kathy: We spent a long time perfecting our recipe. It took about two years and was done around our kitchen tables, with many mistakes along the way that I’m not embarrassed to talk about as they’re such a key part of learning.