For the Watson family, Burgundy plays a vital role in their lives, and it is where founders Alex and Emma Watson draw their inspiration for Renais gin. Their father, Chris Watson planted vines in the region over 30 years ago, becoming the only Englishman to achieve the rank of ‘Pilier of Chablis’ and it is a place where Alex and Emma spent part of their upbringing. This family wine-making passion has provided the foundation for Renais gin, which uses left over Grand Cru grape skins, some from their family vineyard, as their starting point.
This grape spirit is then steeped in Kimmeridgian rock, a key element of the region’s terroir, and links it directly to Chablis wine-making, before pressed organic grape juice, sourced from Chablis’ Grand Cru vineyards, is added.This complex base then draws a range of flavours from natural botanicals such as linden flowers and cubeb berries, with acacia honey added for texture and sweetness. The result is a gin with notes of an English country garden, yet with a Chablis sensibility; crisp with a distinct minerality. It pairs wonderfully with tonic, or mixes marvellously into a martini. It is a gin so flavoursome it can even be enjoyed neat, on the rocks.
