New Gin Alert: 1897 Quinine Gin

As an avid gin drinker, I sometimes feel a little guilty about the vast amount of the stuff I consume, but now there’s a new gin on the scene with added feel-good factor (and I don’t mean that lovely fuzzy feeling you get after two or three gin & tonics).

1897 Quinine Gin is made with the bark of the Cinchona tree, a traditional source of quinine which has been used as an antimalarial for centuries. For every bottle sold, over 50% of the profit (that’s at least a fiver) will be donated to the charity Malaria No More UK. That’s enough to buy a mosquito net for a family to help protect them from malaria.

While quinine flavours are usually kept to the T part of the G&T, 1897 Quinine Gin uses incorporates cinchona bark for a floral aroma. Alongside the more common gin botanicals (juniper, lemon and orange peel, orris and liquorice roots), the bark, together with pink and white grapefruit, is vacuum distilled for a light, citrusy flavour.

But why the name? Well, here's the fun history bit: 1897 was the year in which Sir Ronald Ross discovered that mosquitoes transmit malaria – a mega breakthrough which has since saved thousands of lives.

1897 Quinine Gin is available to buy from Master of Malt for the very reasonable price of £39.95.

We all love to feel we’re doing a little good in the world, and if it takes buying a bottle of gin to do so, then so be it.