The Monterey story began in early 2016 on the slopes of the Tyrolean alps. Three old friends discussing our long lasting love affair with gin and which of our favourite gins would suit certain cocktails. Unable to resolve our differences we decided to begin the journey of making a classic but distinctive organic Cornish gin.
We have been distilling different variations of botanicals and using different techniques for over two and a half years to arrive at the unique Monterey formula. We wanted to keep production levels low in order to focus on quality, consistency and the ‘Single Shot’ method allowing absolute control of the character of our gin. We use a premium base organic spirit and the finest botanicals. Our intention is to create a premium gin that would is prominent in the finest bars and used by the best cocktail makers in the world. Monterey gin is slightly stronger in alcohol content than the average gin and we use more botanicals to give a rounded, smoother mouthfeel.
The Monterey distillery sits in the shade of the Monterey Pines on the banks of the Helford River in Cornwall. These majestic trees are native to the coast of California and particularly in Monterey County but have become a familiar site on the Cornish coast where they stand over the native coppiced oaks of the Helford River.
Monterey gin is a very personal labour of love. As with most fulfilling journeys it has taken longer than expected and had a number of challenges. we are very proud of our gin and we hope you continue to enjoy every last drop. Absolutely everything about Monterey is crafted and finished by hand.
We use as much recyclable materials as we can in the production of Monterey Gin and no non-recyclable plastic/metal seals or packaging. We will continue to find the most ecologically sound packaging and materials going forward.