G & Tea
From Tea to Tipple: The Story Behind a Tea-Based Gin Collaboration
When a local gin distillery meets a local tea company, you might expect a polite exchange of beverages and a handshake. What you probably wouldn’t expect is a deep dive into Darjeeling First Flush, a slightly manic session of taste-testing, and a revelation that tea tasters don’t always like their brews strong enough to fuel a rocket launch.
But let’s start at the beginning.
The Tea Estate with a Family Connection
For Two Spoons Tea, the journey to a tea-based gin began in a rather sentimental spot: a Darjeeling tea estate where Big Spoon’s great uncle once worked. While most family legacies are preserved in dusty photo albums or awkward anecdotes at reunions, this one is now immortalized in a bottle of gin. And not just any gin—a gin infused with the delicate, floral complexity of Darjeeling First Flush, crafted by distillery gurus, Griffiths Brothers.
Griffiths Brothers, renowned for their innovative cold-distilled spirits, were the perfect collaborators for this project. They brought a meticulous approach to their craft and a shared passion for creating something truly unique. Together, they set out to answer the big question: could Darjeeling tea and gin become the ultimate power couple?
The Collaboration Process
The partnership began with a shared love for craftsmanship and a slight obsession with flavor. Two Spoons Tea brought their expertise in tea sourcing and tasting, while Griffiths Brothers offered their botanical wizardry. Together, they embarked on a mission to create a gin that was as refined as it was surprising.
Step One: The Tea Selection
Not all teas are created equal, and Darjeeling First Flush was chosen for its uniquely bright and floral profile. The tea had to hold its own against the juniper, citrus, and spice notes of the gin without being overpowering. In other words, it needed to be a team player, not a diva.
Step Two: Infusion Trials
This is where Griffiths Brothers shone. Using their signature cold distillation process, they infused the tea into the gin at various strengths, tweaking the steeping time and temperature to find the sweet spot. The goal? A subtle tea character that complemented the botanicals, not a gin that tasted like yesterday’s pot of tea.
Step Three: Tasting, Tasting, and More Tasting
Normally, tea tasters brew their samples at double strength to ensure every nuance comes through. But when you’re sipping gin, double strength isn’t just a bad idea—it’s a fast track to forgetting why you’re there in the first place. So, for this project, the tasters (and Griffiths Brothers’ distillers) approached their work with restraint (and maybe a snack or two to keep things steady).
Getting It Right
The magic happened somewhere around batch number eight. The tea’s floral notes mingled harmoniously with the gin’s botanicals, creating a spirit that felt both familiar and delightfully new. The final recipe balances juniper and citrus with a gentle whisper of Darjeeling—a gin that’s as elegant as an afternoon tea and as lively as a Friday night.
The Result
The finished product isn’t just a gin—it’s a celebration of local heritage, craft, and a little bit of serendipity. Perfect for sipping neat, mixing into a cocktail, or simply pondering how a great uncle's career on a tea estate could inspire such a unique collaboration.
Griffiths Brothers Distillery have created something more than a drink; they’ve crafted a story in a bottle. So here’s to partnerships, innovation, and the happy union of tea and gin. Next time you pour yourself a drink, raise a glass to the unexpected. And if you’re lucky, you might just taste a little bit of history in every sip. Cheers!