Gin Isn’t Just for Summer: Strong and Classic Autumn Gin on the Helford

When it comes to autumn gin can be the fireside companion just as much as rum or whisky. The thing is, over the past century, gin has somehow acquired a summer wardrobe. Maybe it’s thanks to its association with summer and tennis? We tend to picture gin with ice clinking in a glass, a wedge of lemon and a beautiful sunny evening stretching ahead of us.

But in Cornwall, at Rosemullion Distillery’s HQ near the Helford River, slipping away into autumn is hardly a reason to put the gin bottle back in the cupboard. In some ways, inspired and classic takes on autumn gin style drinks is worth waiting for.

Here on the Helford, the summer traffic has already quietened down. The creeks have become still and secretive again, and the woods running down to the water are deepening from green into rust, ochre and brown. Darker mornings are here, the first fires of autumn are being lit, and that unmistakable mixture of damp leaves, salt water and woodsmoke rolls together into one delicious reason to go for a big walk and breathe.

And all of that gives us a different set of flavours to play with.

Flavour in the hedgerows

Our Harvest Gin is our autumnal gin, made with apples and plums from our own distillery orchard when possible, alongside raspberry, blackberry and sloe. It’s a robust, fruity gin with orchard fruit, berries and warming spice at its heart.

After this year’s exceptionally hot, dry summer, some Cornish orchards have produced less fruit than usual, and there are certainly fewer apples in our own Rosemullion orchard.

That makes the fruits we do have all the more worth celebrating.

Harvest Gin works beautifully with good-quality tonic and a slice of fresh apple, or with blackberry as a garnish. If you fancy something slightly different, try it with a good-quality lemonade instead.

And if you don’t have a bottle of our Harvest Gin — or even if you do — blackberries are one of the easiest ways to persuade a classic gin and tonic gently towards autumn.

Simply crush two or three in the bottom of the glass before adding gin, plenty of ice and tonic. Add a curl of lemon peel or a tiny sprig of fresh thyme to bring back a little freshness and, bang, there’s autumn in a glass.

Rosemary, thyme and the garden

Don’t forget the herbs.

Rosemary works particularly well with gin: fragrant, slightly resinous and just enough to suggest the woods without making your drink taste like a roast potato.

Rosemullion Classic Dry Gin with premium tonic, a curl of orange peel and a small sprig of rosemary still gives you that classic G&T kick, but with an autumnal twist.

Thyme works beautifully with blackberry, while sage can be surprisingly good with lemon — but go carefully. With herbs, one sprig is certainly enough.

Anyway, whatever you do, half the fun is in experimenting.

Switch the citrus

We’re so used to them but — just as with the revelation that pineapple could replace pepperoni on a pizza — believe it or not, lime and lemon aren’t compulsory.

I know.

As the evenings draw in, orange and grapefruit give gin a warmer, slightly softer character. A strip of orange peel over a classic G&T is perhaps the easiest autumn transformation of all.

If you’re a cinnamon addict — some people find autumn simply isn’t the same without it — you could add a cinnamon stick too. Mostly for the aroma, rather than for stirring vigorously around the glass like an organic swizzle stick.

A little warmth

Ginger ale is often overlooked and banished to the bottom of the bar, but it’s well worth revisiting.

Pour Rosemullion Classic Dry Gin over plenty of ice, add ginger ale and finish with orange peel and a squeeze of lime. This take on autumn gin drinking is still bright and refreshing, but has enough warmth to feel right when you’ve come in from the woods or the river and somebody has finally lit the fire.

The Helford in a glass

Perhaps that’s the real pleasure of drinking seasonally.

You don’t necessarily need an elaborate cocktail or an entirely new drinks cabinet. Sometimes you simply change your flavours up depending on what you would like autumn gin style drinks to taste of.

In summer, perhaps cucumber, lemon and something light.

Come autumn on the Helford, it’s blackberries from the hedges, rosemary from the garden, orange peel, ginger and a little spice.

The boats may gradually disappear from their moorings. The paths become muddier. The evenings close in.

But that doesn’t mean gin season is over.

In some ways, it’s just beginning.

Wishing you a peaceful autumn.

With best wishes as ever,
The Rosemullion Team