Salcombe Gin launches ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’ in partnership with the Royal Ocean Racing Club

The perfect collaboration of two outstanding nautical brands, multi-award winning Salcombe Gin is delighted to have partnered with the Royal Ocean Racing Club, to develop Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’.

Born of a love of adventure on and around the water, this special edition sees Salcombe Gin’s highly decorated gin ‘Start Point’ distilled to an ‘offshore strength’ creating the ultimate sundowner for sailors to enjoy after a day on the water.

From Friday 19th May, Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’ is available in the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Cowes and London Clubhouses as well as on rorc.org, salcombegin.com and in Salcombe Gin’s Dartmouth and Salcombe stores.  Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’ is available in a 70cl bottle, £50, ABV 50%.

Inspired by the coastal vitality of Salcombe and its shipbuilding heritage, internationally acclaimed Salcombe Gin creates their exceptional gins at its waterside distillery on Island Street in Salcombe, one of the world’s only distilleries directly accessible by boat.  Distilled with an unrivalled passion, care and attention to detail, this special higher strength London Dry Gin is expertly crafted to an ‘Offshore Strength’ of 50% ABV, instead of Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point’s usual 44% ABV.

A classic, citrus led London Dry gin which is exceptionally smooth, distinct and complex, Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’ pays homage to the cargoes of fresh citrus fruits and spices once carried by the fastest ships of their day, the famous 19th century Salcombe Fruiters.  This new higher alcohol strength version, brings a much richer, fuller flavour to the distinct citrus notes of red grapefruit and heady juniper which are synonymous with their ‘Start Point’ gin.

With a love and respect for the sea at the heart of everything they do, Salcombe Gin is thrilled to partner with the Royal Ocean Racing Club.  The collaboration perfectly captures both their shared passion for ocean racing and voyages, alongside their belief in the critical importance of supporting the regeneration of life in our seas.  With their ‘1% for the Ocean’ initiative, every bottle sold of Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’ will contribute to making our oceans healthier, through the donation of 1% of the revenue to ocean recovery projects.  In addition, the special release gin, like all the products in Salcombe Gin’s portfolio, contains no plastic packaging and has biodegradable cellulose tamper proof seals.

Founded in 1925, the Royal Ocean Racing Club was established to encourage long distance yacht racing and the design, building and navigation of sailing vessels.  A world leader in ocean racing, the Royal Ocean Racing Club is the principal organiser of offshore yacht races in the United Kingdom, including the world renowned Rolex Fastnet Race. At approximately 700 nautical miles this event is prestigious, exciting and gruelling – a maritime ‘Everest’ for Corinthian sailors.

Howard Davies, Co-founder and Director of Salcombe Distilling Co. comments on the partnership:

As a lifelong sailor I can’t put into words how thrilled I am for Salcombe Gin to be partnering with the Royal Ocean Racing Club; an organisation that I have admired since a young age for their highly challenging offshore races and superb clubhouses in London and Cowes.

Howard continues The idea behind Salcombe Gin began with a sundowner G&T after a day’s sailing, so to create this ‘Offshore Strength’ version of our award winning ‘Start Point’ gin for sailors to enjoy after competing in some of the most famous offshore races in the world is something that we’re seriously excited about.

There’s a certain magic that happens at the end of a tough race and sharing stories of the day’s adventure over a G&T is almost as precious as the adventure itself. With the Royal Ocean Racing Club joining us in our ‘One percent for the Ocean’ initiative, these special moments after a day on the water will also support ocean conservation projects through our partnership with the Marine Conservation Society.

Jeremy Wilton, Chief Executive at the Royal Ocean Yacht Club adds:

It’s a privilege for the Royal Ocean Racing Club to partner with an organisation that shares our passion for the ocean both as an environment for adventure, but also important conservation initiatives through their relationship with the Marine Conservation Society and share our passion for innovation with the development of “offshore strength”, a new sector in the highly competitive gin market. This is just the start of what will be a fruitful long-term relationship. Through the evolution of the partnership, we look forward to seeing an increasing presence of Salcombe Gin at many of our future prestigious events, races and initiatives.

Jeremy continues Through the launch and sale of Salcombe Gin’s RORC ‘Start Point Offshore Strength’ we are also delighted to support Salcombe Gin’s investment in ocean recovery projects, through their 1% for the oceans scheme, an important initiative to all work together on.

Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’ joins Salcombe Gin’s outstanding line-up of Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point’, Salcombe Gin ‘Rosé Sainte Marie’ and their exclusive Voyager Series.

For further information about Salcombe Gin, visit www.salcombegin.com, follow SalcombeGin on Instagram and Facebook. For further information about the Royal Ocean Racing Club visit www.rorc.org or follow Royal Ocean Racing Club on Facebook.

ABOUT SALCOMBE GIN ‘START POINT – OFFSHORE STRENGTH’

Drawing influence from the famous 19th century Salcombe fruit schooners and their precious cargo, Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point’ Offshore Strength is named after the iconic ‘Start Point’ lighthouse which marked the beginning of the 19th century voyages.  The Salcombe Fruit Schooners carried exotic goods, fruits and spices, many of which inspire the gin’s signature flavour.

Handcrafted on ‘Provident’, Salcombe Gin’s striking 450 litre copper pot still, Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’ is distilled using 13 of the finest hand sourced botanicals from around the world, many of which have been traced back to the global maritime trading routes and cargoes once carried by the famous Salcombe Fruiters.

Macedonian juniper berries are selected for their high limonene content and the fresh citrus peels of red grapefruit, lemon and lime are hand peeled at Salcombe Gin’s waterside distillery each day prior to distillation. Of utmost importance and often overlooked in gin distillation is the quality of the water used for blending. Salcombe Gin knows that water plays an important part in creating their phenomenally smooth collection of gins which is why they blend their gins with Dartmoor water; some of the softest and purest water in England, sourced from high up in the wilds of Dartmoor National Park. 

TASTE PROFILE

On the nose there are distinct notes of red grapefruit along with heady, earthy pine notes from the Macedonian juniper, perfectly balanced with warming spiced aromas.  The palate is rich, full and incredibly smooth, with a touch of earthy sweetness from liquorice and angelica root.  The finish is fresh and balanced, lengthened by the botanical, green cardamom.

Signature Serve

‘OFFSHORE & TONIC’

50ml Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’
150ml Premium Indian tonic water
Red grapefruit

1. Fill a large gin glass with ice
2. Add one large measure of Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’
3. Add 150ml of premium Indian tonic water
4. Garnish with a slice of red grapefruit to complement the rich and warm citrus notes of the gin
5. Gently stir and serve

Signature Cocktail 

‘OFFSHORE NEGRONI’ 25ml Salcombe Gin ‘Start Point – Offshore Strength’

25ml Campari 
25ml Martini Riserva Rubino
Red grapefruit juice

1. Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice and stir for 30 seconds
2. Strain into a tumbler filled with ice
3. Twist a slice of red grapefruit peel over the glass to release the oils into the cocktail.
4. Rub the rim of the glass with the grapefruit skin before using as a garnish.