Cadenhead’s Old Raj Dry Gin
William Cadenhead Limited, founded in 1842, are Scotland’s oldest independent bottler and produce a wide range of spirits including whisky, rum, and gin from their operations in Campbeltown. Since 1972 they have produced gins under the Old Raj brand and there are currently three types available with two of them available at differing strengths.
Old Raj unashamedly and, perhaps, politically insensitively harks back to the era when India formed an important part of the British Empire and a gin and tonic, as well as a refreshing way to wind down from a hard day at the imperial coalface, was a way of gaining some protection via the quinine in the tonic against malaria. As Churchill once said, “the gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire”.
What is immediately eye-catching about the Old Raj Gin is its pale yellow colour. This is due to the addition of saffron once the distillation process has been completed. Due to the expense of real saffron it is added sparingly, said to done so personally by the company’s chairman, but also to ensure that its taste does not overwhelm the spirit. As befits the old school image of the brand the other botanicals are fairly conventional; juniper, coriander, Seville orange peel, liquorice, angelica root, orris, cinnamon, cassia quills, and nutmeg.
The botanicals are each macerated in a mix of alcohol and water for 36 hours before being distilled separately in a small pot still and then combined with a neutral grain spirit. It is at this point that the saffron is added. On the nose the juniper stands out as do the citric elements. In the glass the spirit takes on a muted faintly yellow colour upon the addition of a quality tonic.
The juniper is the dominant flavour but there is enough orange coming through to give the spirit a complexity and balance that would otherwise be lacking. The saffron is not immediately obvious, its sweet and earthy flavourings blending in with and complimenting the other background botanicals. Those expecting a powerful hit of saffron will be disappointed – perhaps the Chairman was not too generous with this batch – but its presence adds a different twist to a London Dry style. It comes in two strengths, 46% ABV and 55%. Naturally, I went for the 55% version!
The bottle has a distinctly old fashioned look about it, made of clear glass with a rectangular shape and rounded edges leading up to steep rounded shoulders, a short neck and a silver screwcap. The 55% version comes with blue labelling while the weaker version uses red. The labelling is minimalist, at least in terms of information, but has three distinctive if somewhat un-p.c images. On the front is an old buffer in full viceroy uniform and to the left-hand side is a hunting scene, the sahib astride an elephant with a tiger at bay and the legend “time for an Old Raj Gin served straight” and on the right a few members of the Raj relaxing, a native attendant carrying a tray of drinks and the legend “Old Raj Gin and Indian Tonic served after the hunt”.
At least there is no compromising the brand’s old school image and the use of saffron does give an interesting gin even more of a curiosity value.
Until the next time, cheers!
