As the unique distillation process used to create OXLEY™, Cold Distillation, preserves the natural intesity and flavour of its ingredients perfectly, the selection of botanicals, and in what form is vitally important. As a result, a thorough reappraisal of exactly which ingredients benefited from the lowered temperatures created by Cold Distillation, and in what form, was required. This process was a lengthy one. In fact, it took 38 combinations of the best quality botanicals before the perfect recipe was found. During the process of experimenting, a number of intriguing findings emerged. Most importantly, it was found that the citrus peels from grapefruit, lemon and orange, which are normally heat-dried before being used to make other gins, could be used fresh. The citrus peels are macerated at the same time as the other botanicals and the below zero temperatures play a major role in retaining their smoothness and brightness, qualities that are clearly discernable the second the spirit touches the lips.
Perhaps most pleasingly, the overly strong pine notes that juniper berries acquire when exposed to prolonged heat do not appear in OXLEY™, which instead manages to retain the subtler aspects of the berry itself. And meadowsweet, from England, was found to lend itself particularly well to Cold Distillation, providing a rounded almond flavour that helps harmonise the other 13 botanicals. Not all of the 14 botanicals used to create OXLEY are used fresh, however. Some, such as vanilla actually benefit from drying. Recipe No. 38 is therefore a unique recipe and the combination and harmony of all its 14 botanicals are required to create the fresh, bright and smooth classic gin taste that is OXLEY.
