The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Sacred Gin

Sacred Gin

Sacred Spirits · Sacred Spirits Company

80 proofNASHighgate, London, England
A quietly revolutionary London gin — vacuum distillation captures botanical clarity most copper stills can only chase, and the frankincense signature makes it one of the most distinctive juniper-forward gins on the market.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright, aromatic juniper leads, wrapped in fresh citrus peel and a distinctive resinous frankincense note. Underneath, warm cardamom and nutmeg add spice, with a subtle waxy pine character.

Palate

Silky and full-bodied for the strength — juniper is generous but not aggressive, framed by pink grapefruit oils, coriander seed, and the signature Hougari frankincense that gives Sacred its unmistakable resinous depth. Cardamom, nutmeg, and a whisper of orris root add structure.

Finish

Long, dry, and gently spiced, with lingering pine resin, citrus zest, and a soft peppery warmth that fades slowly rather than clipping short.

Specifications
Style
Modern London Dry with vacuum-distilled botanical clarity
Botanicals
Juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, orris root, cardamom, nutmeg, pink grapefruit peel, lime peel, lemon peel, cassia bark, Hougari frankincense (Boswellia sacra), fresh orange peel.
Base Spirit
English wheat neutral spirit
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

The Highgate Martini — 2.5 oz Sacred Gin, 0.5 oz Sacred English Dry Vermouth, 1 dash orange bitters. Stir with ice for 30 seconds, strain into a chilled coupe, and express a pink grapefruit twist over the surface before dropping it in.

Food Pairing

Smoked trout on rye with crème fraîche and dill, or a plate of Marcona almonds with aged Manchego.

The Story

Founded in 2009 by Ian Hart in his Highgate home, Sacred Spirits pioneered vacuum distillation for gin — macerating and distilling each of its twelve botanicals separately at low temperatures under glass, then blending the individual distillates to preserve aromatics that traditional heat would destroy.

Train These Aromas
Comments

Be the first to comment.

Leave a comment

0 / 4,000

First-time comments are reviewed before appearing. Be kind, be specific, no spam.

More Gin Reviews
Beefeater Burrough's Reserve Oak Rested Gin
Gin

Beefeater Burrough's Reserve Oak Rested Gin

Beefeater

Master Distiller Desmond Payne's vision of what happens when the spirit meets the cask is brought to vivid life in Burrough's Reserve Oak Rested. Rested in hand-selected Jean de Lillet oak casks — previously used to age the storied French aperitif — this gin embodies the issue's theme at its most literal: the barrel's inner skin imparts golden color, vanilla richness, and a gentle tannic framework without ever eclipsing the juniper-forward London Dry character. It occupies a fascinating middle ground between gin and aged spirit, rewarding both neat sipping and barrel-aged cocktails.

86 proof
Bols Genever Barrel Aged 18 Month
Gin

Bols Genever Barrel Aged 18 Month

Bols

A masterclass in patience applied to the gin family tree. Where most gins celebrate the instant brightness of distillation, Bols Barrel Aged 18 Month embraces the slow alchemy of oak and time. The result is a spirit that bridges the worlds of aged whiskey and botanical distillate — furnace-forged grain spirit tempered into something deeply contemplative. Perfectly aligned with "The Furnace of Patience," this genever proves that even the juniper berry bows to time's authority.

84 proof
Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Gin
Gin

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla Gin

Tanqueray

Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla takes the classic London dry structure and overlays it with actual Seville orange botanicals, creating a gin that bridges tradition and accessibility. The bitterness of the orange is key — this is not a sweetened citrus gin but a genuine botanical expression. A versatile bottle for cocktails and a solid G&T anchor.

82.6 proof
Conniption American Dry Gin
Gin

Conniption American Dry Gin

Durham Distillery

Durham Distillery's Conniption American Dry is a masterclass in restraint. By splitting its botanical bill between two distillation methods—heat-based and vacuum—it preserves each ingredient's essential character without compromise. The result is a gin that feels structurally honest: juniper-forward, quietly complex, and utterly transparent. In an era of gins dressed in lavender and tropical fruit, Conniption argues that the marrow of the spirit is decoration enough. Exceptional value at its price point.

88 proof