Whitley Neill Quince Gin
Whitley Neill · Whitley Neill Distillery (City of London Distillery)
Whitley Neill Quince finds an unusual but effective botanical focus. The quince doesn't overpower the gin's foundations — instead, it introduces a tannic fruit complexity that plays well with juniper and spice, creating something genuinely different without gimmickry.
Nose
Juniper leads cleanly, quickly joined by ripe quince and orris root. There's a warm cassia bark spice note and a gentle floral quality reminiscent of rose petals, with a lemony brightness running through.
Palate
Silky and aromatic. The juniper backbone holds firm while quince fruit adds a honeyed, slightly tannic quality unique among gins. Coriander seed and a whisper of ginger give the mid-palate structure, and there's a subtle violet sweetness just before the finish.
Finish
Clean and moderately long, with juniper reasserting itself alongside fading floral notes and a final peppery kick.
- Style
- Flavoured London Dry
- Botanicals
- Juniper, quince, coriander seed, cassia bark, orris root, angelica root, liquorice, lemon peel
- Base Spirit
- English grain spirit
- Distillation
- Pot distilled in copper stills
Cocktail Suggestion
Quince Collins — 2 oz Whitley Neill Quince Gin · 1 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.75 oz honey syrup · 3 oz chilled club soda · Build gin, lemon, and honey over ice in a tall glass, stir gently, top with soda, garnish with a lemon wheel and thyme sprig.
Food Pairing
The gin's quince character echoes the classic membrillo pairing, while the juniper and spice cut through the creamy richness of aged Manchego cheese.
Created by fourth-generation distiller Johnny Neill in Birmingham, England, this gin infuses quince — an ancient fruit long prized in Persian and Mediterranean cuisines — into a London Dry base built on a family recipe dating back to the 1880s.
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