From Cornwall with Botanicals: An Interview with Tarquin’s on Their Award-Winning Non-Alcoholic Gin

When it comes to craft spirits with a sense of place, few do it better than Tarquin’s, the pioneering Cornish distillery known for its bold botanicals and coastal flair. Now, they’ve brought that same small-batch expertise to the world of mindful drinking with Tarquin’s Non-Alcoholic Gin - a carefully crafted alternative that delivers the flavour and complexity of a classic London Dry, without the alcohol. Tarquin's was selected as the headline spirit for JOMO Club's July Box, so we had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with the team behind Tarquin’s Dry to explore their inspiration, the challenges of distilling without the ABV, and why this non-alcoholic gin is earning a rightful place in our bar carts across the UK.

Welcome to the JOMO Box of Summer! Can we set the scene and start with an introduction to Tarquin’s?

Founded by self-taught Master Distiller, Tarquin Leadbetter, Southwestern Distillery is proudly Cornwall’s original, independent, family-run distillery.

We champion the most traditional techniques alongside progressively modern approaches in all we do. Established back in 2012, we are underpinned by an ethos of creative expression and innovation, all our gins celebrate our Cornish heritage and our desire to share our craft. We proudly ensure that every award-winning bottle that leaves our distillery has been lovingly waxed and stamped by hand for you to enjoy.

You have a range of alcoholic gin’s, when did you launch your Cornish Non-Alc Spirit and why did you want to add this to your range?

Our classic Cornish Dry Gin has been loved for over 12 years! We received hundreds of requests every year asking for us to make a non-alcoholic version. It took a long time to perfect the recipe, but we cracked it and the rest is history.

What can we expect from this spirit in front of us today and can you touch on the ‘dry’ aspect to this non-alc spirit?

On a mission to bring a slice of Cornish sunshine to every glass. Tarquin has reimagined his classic Cornish Dry Gin. On the nose, you will get dry elegant pine, lemon sherbet and pink grapefruit. To start you will get fresh juniper, sweet orange blossom and sea salt. The finish is crisp, clean and vibrant, beautifully smooth with citrus freshness & floral notes from Cornish gorse flowers.

Your range is crafted on the Wild Cornish Coast. Why is the Cornish Coast the perfect muse for your spirits?

Everything we do is inspired by the Wild Cornish Coast and always will be. Tarquin grew up in the South West and has always been drawn to the coast's rugged nature.

What is your favourite way and setting to enjoy Tarquin’s?

50ml of Tarquin’s Cornish Dry Non-Alcoholic Spirit, topped with 150ml of premium Tonic Water, garnished with Fresh Thyme & a Red Grapefruit Wedge

Build in a large glass filled with ice. Garnish & enjoy with good company.

Distilling both alcoholic and non-alcoholic gin, how does the distillation process differ and are there any big challenges you had to face with the creation of your non-alcoholic spirit? 

Tarquin’s Cornish Dry Non-Alcoholic Spirit has been 3 years in the making! Following hundreds of taste tests, we’ve finally perfected our recipe for the ultimate non-alcoholic spirit! One that delivers the same juniper, citrus & floral notes as our signature Tarquin’s Cornish Dry Gin. It’s a complex and time-consuming process! We start with Tarquin’s flagship & award-winning Cornish Dry Gin (we believe it’s the only way to truly recreate the authentic taste of a juniper-led Dry Gin). We infuse this with extra juniper & citrus, and distil this down to a very concentrated form – keeping all the gorgeous botanicals notes, but without the alcohol. We then infuse this into a blend of distilled water & Cornish coastal botanicals.

Have you seen any interesting patterns or consumer shifts?

77% of UK adults are now moderating their alcohol intake and 47% of UK adults are switching between alcohol and low and alcohol-free drinks on the same occasion (a practice known as zebra stripping).

What is your perfect Summer’s Day?

Making gin at Distillery HQ in the morning, surfing on Harlyn Bay in the afternoon. Finished off with sundowners at Green's in Padstow.

You can find and buy Tarquin's on the JOMO Club bottle shop.