The new gin is the product of a collaboration between local gin enthusiasts Paul and Tiffany Kerruish and distiller Gerard Macluskey who previously worked for Tanqueray Gordon and was a founder of Masons Dry Yorkshire gin.
Tiffany said: ’Starting a gin distillery had been a dream of ours for many years.
’As passionate gin drinkers Paul and I were inspired by the many high-quality premium gins being produced by artisan distilleries across the UK and beyond, that showcased locally-grown botanical ingredients and local back stories that gave originality and provenance to their products.
’We were becoming very frustrated that we couldn’t drink a premium Manx gin and decided to take matters into our own hands!
’Meeting with Gerard, our master distiller, gave us the full skill set to finally launch Fynoderee with the confidence of creating a superbly crafted product from the outset - as well as a lovely branding story that conveys some original Manx character and can evolve with us over time and new products.’
The gin is named Fynoderee after a mythical creature from an old Manx fairy story that Tiffany and Paul came across when they were sourcing local juniper berries.
It turned out that the last juniper bush on the Isle of Man had been discovered at the top of Glen Auldyn and well-meaningly transplanted to the Milntown Estate at the bottom of the glen, where it unfortunately didn’t survive.
Tiffany explained: ’We were introduced to the story of the Fynoderee through our interest in the Ramsey Forest Project and the reintroduction of juniper that has taken place in Glen Auldyn. This lovely Manx folklore story is set in the very same location as the newly-planted juniper groves.’
In case you are not familiar with the tale, it concerns a beautiful local girl, Kitty Kerruish, who met and fell in love with a beguilingly handsome elfin prince called Udereek. Sadly, their story didn’t end well with Kitty being poisoned by a jealous rival and Udereek turned into a creature that was half man half goat - a Fynoderee or ’hairy one’.
Fast forward to 2017 and the unfortunate Fynoderee is now prominently pictured on the bottles of gin that bear his name. I was invited, along with other local gin enthusiasts, to give it a try at one of a number of launches around the island.
The current version of the gin, ’Winter’, is described by master distiller Gerard as follows: ’Containing more than 15 different botanical ingredients, our seasonal gin is a "winter wonderment" of piney juniper, rich juicy berries (we used hand-picked elderberry, blackberry and sloe) with the subtle spice of liquorice and clove and a smooth warming, cinnamon finish.’
zesty
We were served our ’Fyn and tonics’ in four different ways, one after the other. The first one, my favourite, was long with tonic, a cinnamon stick and strips of orange zest. That one, and the next one, served with Fever Tree pink tonic, were both doubles. You can see that this was a serious gin-drinker’s event. The next two were served shorter as cocktails and were also rather good.
According to Tiffany, I’m not the only one who likes the new gin.
She said: ’The feedback has been amazing from both our domestic and trade customers who are really appreciating the smoothness and richness of our flavours.’
Through the evening we were also treated to a reading by Tiffany of the full story of ’Kitty and the Fynoderee’ and its ending adds an interesting twist to the Fynoderee’s current incarnation.
Apparently, after being turned into a Fynoderee, the handsome elfin prince has remained in the Isle of Man to this day.
Although heartbroken and fallen from grace, he is known for good-naturedly assisting those whom he befriends, and tales told of the little fellow’s beneficence.
Over the years and by moonlight he has helped farmers to reap and sow, moved stones to assist builders and mended fishermen’s nets on the quayside.
Tiffany concluded: ’We hope he will be pleased that we are telling his story again and that he may even help us with our foraging and harvesting of the various gin botanicals.’