Brothers Andy and James Campana, the former owners of The Loft and Plan B in London, have launched a spiced liqueur inspired by botanicals used in gin.
Haycocks No 9 is made from macerating five ingredients, led by coriander seed, the spice commonly used to amalgamate the different ingredients in recipes for London dry gin.
To smooth out the harder notes of the spice-forward recipe, sugar has been added, making it a liqueur with ABV of 34%. It is rested in steel for a week before bottling.
The result is a liqueur with pronounced notes of refreshing citrus and uplifting spice and delicate hints of herbaceous flowers and warming caramel.
Andy said: “Haycock’s is extremely versatile, simply because from its very inception it was designed to be. It has always been our intention to make a very approachable product, which can make simple, delicious drinks with ease, whether in a bar or at home.
“Our signature serves include many delicious twists on classic cocktails as well as several simple built drinks.”
Ideas for using Haycock’s No 9 London Spiced Liqueur include The London Mule, combining it with ginger beer and fresh lime over ice, and versions of a Mojito, Margarita and Collins. Click here for more ideas.
Andy said: “We thought if you are going to create a new spirit designed for mixing by putting botanicals in alcohol and re-distilling as London dry gin is made, why not exclusively pick botanicals with a view to their mixing potential, not because of how well they mix with juniper or tonic?
“Start with coriander seed, throw the juniper out of the window and start again – try to create an entirely new type of spirit that’s designed for mixing.”
The brothers spent four years developing Haycock’s No 9 London Spiced Liqueur, which was showcased at the Imbibe Live show in London last month. The label and bottle design were by Stranger & Stranger. It is available from supplier Enotria Coe.
Last year, they sold The Loft in Clapham, a former Time Out bar of the year, to CG Restaurants & Bars, which has converted it into a Dirty Martini bar, and Plan B in Brixton to The Columbo Group which has turned it into club and bar Phonox.
