Cross Keys Gin Sea Buckthorn Premium Craft Gin

Cross Keys comes from Riga, a city that has always bred rebels and unusual drinks, from the secret-recipe Black Balsam first mixed in 1752 to this gin made by the very distiller who blends that balsam today. The name nods to the crossed keys, an old emblem of urban hospitality woven into Riga's heraldry. Sea buckthorn, the tangy orange berry of the Baltic coast, gives this edition its colour and character.

The gin pours a warm orange. The nose is fresh and sweetish, juniper meeting that distinctive sea buckthorn. The palate follows suit, sweet and slightly sour, with a spicy edge, soft chamomile and juniper holding firm, before a long, complex, tart finish. Best poured over ice with tonic water and a slice of orange to echo the berry.