Some people like to dine on truffles. Others, it now appears, like to drink theirs! Introducing Truffle Gin, in two versions, White Truffle and Black Truffle ... the choice is yours.
These truffles didn't make it into the gin bottle.
Who doesn't like to push the boundaries, and Cambridge Distillery is no exception. Thanks to the creativity of the William and Lucy Lowe, a husband and wife team in Cambridge, they are now presenting a gin that blends white truffles from Alba, Piedmont with Macedonian juniper berries and botanical grown in the Lowe family's back garden or locally foraged.
Tasting notes from the website www.MasterOfMalt describe the White Truffle Gin as follows:
- Nose: Thyme, a hint of dried citrus peels, menthol and petrichor.
- Palate: Oily juniper, black pepper and continued earthy notes. Almost savory at points!
- Finish: Herbaceous notes of basil leaf and lemongrass last.
The Lowes suggest that the White Truffle Gin is best served after dinner in a brandy glass. However, Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsey proposes an alternative with his version of a Truffle Martini: Combine 50 ml Cambridge Truffle Gin with 10 ml Noilly Prat dry vermouth in a mixing glass. Stir well and strain into chilled martini glass. Squeeze oil from one orange twist and discard. Garnish with one thin slice of truffle.
At the distillery, White Truffle Gin sells for £80 (about $111 USD) for a 700 ml bottle. Figure on spending a minimum of $50 to ship the bottle of gin from the UK to the USA.
Black Truffle Gin
Not to be upstaged, Stone Pine Distillery in Bathurst, Australia is one of the first to fashion a Black Truffle Gin.
Transplants from Scotland, distillers Bev and Ian Glennote describe their creation as "decadent" with "fresh local truffle front and centre." To complement the black truffles from the Bathurst region, they add juniper berries, coriander seed, orris root, flaked salt and black pepper to the process.
The Glennotes characterize their Black Truffle beverage as "a savoury gin" that "works beautifully in a Black Truffle Martini: 60ml Black Truffle Gin, 10ml Dry Vermouth, small dash of Olive Brine (if you like your martini "dirty"), stirred on ice and strained into a martini glass with an olive garnish."
It's priced at 135 AUD (about $105 USD) for a 700 ml bottle. Unfortunately, Roz of Nip of Courage, their Australian Wholesaler, reports that "at present we don’t export into the USA. If you or your husband are planning a trip to Australia, this might be your best way to pick up a bottle." Hum, now, that's a great idea!
Let me tell you that Steven has already made it known that he won't be trying either the White or Black Truffle Gin any time soon. He's famous for his holiday martinis (4 to 1, not 3 to 1, as the books say), and without question a lot of people would be disappointed at our annual Thanksgiving soiree if he were to change the preparation in any way, thank you very much!
Steven is proud to share one of his secrets to a successful martini: "freezing" the martini mixture (OK, he admits, it doesn't really freeze due to the alcohol content but it gets mighty chilled) a day or two in advance and pouring into frosted martini glasses. This is the true, "purist" way, and ensures a remarkable cocktail. Cheers!