York Minster has launched its own gin – made with herbs from its own park, and York Minster Rose petals.
The gin is distilled in York by the York GIn Company, a small, sustainable craft distiller of some of the world’s finest ultra-premium gins. Their motto is ‘History in the Tasting’. The Minster’s history stretches back over 1,400 years on its current site.
Leaves from the Artemisia arborescens tree in the Minster’s Dean’s Park, and York Minster Rose petals give this London Dry gin its unique character, rooted in the ancient city.
The rose – a creamy white flower – provides a nod to the Minster’s Rose Window originally constructed over five centuries ago.
With a base of nine classic botanicals in gold award-winning York GIn London Dry, these two additions help to create a delightfully delicate herbaceous gin.
The label has an illustration of the Minster’s West End – with the cat from York Gin’s logo sitting proudly on the building. The cat is one of York’s historic symbols – and cats have been associated with gin since the 18th Century.
The gin is available exclusively in the York Minster gift shop in 70cl bottles which cost £40 – and is not available anywhere else in the world. Customers can buy the gin Monday to Saturday from midday and from 12.30pm on Sundays.
York Gin co-founder, Emma Godivala, said: “We have loved working with York Minster to produce this wonderful gin. Using a botanical from the Minster’s very own gardens grounds it here in York. And the York Minster Rose petals are a delightful nod to the incredible Rose Window.
“The Minster is the most iconic building in York – and one of the country’s most famous structures. Its fascinating history stretches back millennia and we are proud to add to this history with a gin that is definitely rooted in York and made in our sustainable distillery in the city.”