From small beginnings…

134 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Things to do

Date of travel

May, 2022

Product name

East Coast Distillery

Product country

United Kingdom

Product city

Landermere, Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex CO16 0NH

Travelled with

Couple

Reasons for trip

Relaxation/Wellness, Culture/Sightseeing

I was delighted to have won a stay in a luxury cabin in Essex as a prize in the Silver Traveller 12 Days of Christmas draw (see my previous review), especially as it included a gin tasting session at the nearby East Coast Distillery.

We drove out to this quiet south-east corner of the county, not far from Walton-on-the-Naze, not knowing what to expect, but were greeted with a warm welcome and a private tour, talk about the gin-making process, and tasting! We learned much about how a group of friends, with no previous knowledge or experience in the industry, had decided to embark on a new venture very different to their day jobs. At the moment it’s quite a small concern, but growing all the time with their introduction of new products.

We met Monty, their multi-functional still (picture attached), and were told about the various botanicals, mostly found and foraged locally, which give their gins their own particular flavour and individuality. It seems the local environment of the nearby tidal estuary and saltmarsh between Walton and Harwich provides many of the unusual ingredients, such as Sea Buckthorn and Sea Parslane which are the basis of their signature Tide’s Fortune Gin.

The tasting was extensive, the only pity for myself being that I was driving! However, I did manage to enjoy a taste of Tide’s Fortune, as well as the Elder Pear Dry Gin and their Distiller’s Cut “Afternoon Tea” Gin, all of which my wife and I found absolutely delicious! In these days of gins in as many different flavours and styles you can think of, these were new (to us!) and slightly different to others we’d tasted. In short, a very pleasant surprise, well worth a try and a short detour to this quiet little backwater of Essex. If you can’t get there, you can order from their website…..https://eastcoastdistillery.co.uk/

David

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.