Shining Cliff

Founded in 2017 by Max and Claire Vaughan in a old wire works on the banks of the River Derwent (halfway between Matlock and Belper), the White Peak Distillery is the culmination of a long term dream to have whisky made in Derbyshire. Although their whiskies will be released very soon (at the time of typing in September 2021) they are already garnering a great reputation thanks to some excellent gins and rum.

Shining Cliff Gin is named after the nearby Shining Cliff Woods, an ancient forest which is now designated a Site of Speciali Scientific Interest, and also the home of the Betty Kenny Tree, which is said to be 2000 years old and was the treetop in which 'Rock-A-Bye-Baby' would sit in the old nursery rhyme.

Contrary to what you might think, the Bakewell Pud edition is not a sickly sweet gunky liqueur, but an extremely refined, proper gin. Nine botanicals are used here, including the briefest of maceration with English cherries post distillation to impart just a hint of colour, along with actual almonds (as opposed to almond essence) during distillation.

The nose is pure fresh almonds, and the nuttiness continues through to the palate. The cherry fruit is subtle, and there's just a hint of a sweeter note. If you were expecting a heavily flavoured, super-sweet Bakewell Tart effect, you'll be disappointed, but if you want the gin equivalent of a deconstructed Bakewell pudding as made by the likes of Heston Blumenthal, where each part of the flavour profile is pulled apart and allowed to stand on its own, then this is the one for you!