We’re all trying to do our bit for the environment, and Symphonia Gin is no different. In my last post I talked a bit about how the gin making process for Symphonia is different from regular still distillations, and how this contributes to the fantastic balanced flavour of our gins.
Another benefit of this technique is that I am able to make gin which is much more energy-efficient than traditional processes, so I can reduce our impact on the environment, all whilst giving you some delicious gins! So how do I do it?
Using my background in organic chemistry, I have been able to devise new processes for gin making which are incredibly energy and space efficient. As each botanical is distilled individually, bespoke conditions can be created so that maximum flavour is extracted using the minimum amount of energy. The process makes energy savings because only the minimum amount of ethanol and water is heated up to extract the flavour, as opposed to traditional distillation which involves heating a large amount of ethanol for extended periods. And as most extractions can be carried out under partial vacuum (cold distillation), this means it uses even less energy.
Another innovation I have made is the use of microwave heating to break down the botanicals prior to distillation. Microwaves are a very efficient energy source, and this technique is commonly used in perfumery and aromatherapy. The microwaves excite the water molecules naturally present in botanicals causing them to bust open the cells and release all the flavours and aromas present, which are then ready to be distilled.
These processes are incredibly energy efficient, using about 2% of the energy of a traditional distillation process. This means our gin might just be the ‘greenest’ around – as if you needed another reason to get a bottle!
