Raising our Spirits with Kingdom’s Gin from Kingdom Recommends. #Producer Review

Victoria Hayes
8th January 2021

Nothing lifts that lockdown gloom like the promise of an evening Gin Tasting.

I had no idea however, that this evening spent with the team from Kingdom Recommends would “raise my spirits” literally as well as in a cheesy pun kind of way.

Kingdom Thenga; founder of The Suburbs, owner of The Yard and opener of the new kid on the block, The Old Dukes, has quite the reputation in this area. Beyond his obvious charisma and entrepreneurial nature, if you know one thing about him, it’s that he knows his beverages. His experience in the hospitality trade and years of dedicated ‘research’ mean there is hardly anyone better to ask for a drink recommendation. 

Kingdom Recommends is the natural culmination of this genuine talent and the inspiration of his own life experience.

Having arrived in this country 20 years ago, from his home country of South Africa, Kingdom found himself homeless and jobless on the cold streets of London. He is the first to admit, at that point in his life, he was hopeless.

However, the kindness and empathy of a stranger at London Victoria Station, who fed him and gave him a lifeline, lifted him up and set him on his path into hospitality in this country. A path which has lead him now to multiple successful businesses, a community of friendship and the ability to pay it forward.

He calls this spirit “Ubuntu” –  I am because we are.  It’s about hope, dreams and of belief together we are stronger.

Ubuntu is about not being selfish and taking the time to help someone else in the knowledge that if we all work together, we all benefit in life.

This spirit runs through everything Kingdom does and it’s influence is quite literally stamped on his latest project, Kingdom’s Gin.

Like many, if not most of us, things feel pretty bleak to me at the moment. There’s no need to dwell on specific miseries at this time, but it’s safe to say I was not having a good day yesterday. Lockdown 3.0 has taken a personal toll on my usual positive outlook and I was, I confess, struggling badly.  In stepped Kingdom’s spirit of Ubuntu and quickly positivity and hope for the future begins to brighten my outlook.

It began with the arrival of a beautifully packaged box containing Three exciting mini bottles of gin, nestled in tissue paper, bearing tags saying, “Drink Me” – well, you don’t have to ask me twice.

An email invites to me to an online tasting session along with 29 other Gin (and hope) enthusiasts.

An introduction from Kingdom’s wife Karen Thenga shows how much she is a driving force, influence and motivation. The creation in just 8 weeks of three gins to market with the bottle design, labelling, even the barcodes developed and ready to go is in its own way astonishing and encouraging.

Their collaboration with Henstone Distillery, just up the road in Oswestry is the key to the birth of not one, not two but three delicious gins. Henstone’s own London Dry Gin won “Best in Britain 2020”, so you know, they know what they are talking about.

Utilising their 1,000 litre still, named Hilda, and working with Kingdom and Karen to create the flavour profiles, the team have worked really hard to create something which breaks the mould in market some would say is over saturated already.

So what sets them apart? For a start, the focus is on ‘tasting the gin’ and not about how it combines with tonic. The gins are designed to be smooth enough to sip on the rocks, to enjoy a few on your day off and not suffer a terrible hangover the day afterwards.

The London Dry Gin is smooth with the tang of citrus from lemon peel and orange, flavours which are ignited by a hint of coriander. 

If you do not feel brave enough to drink it neat, then try it with Cranberry juice and a bit of ginger.

 

The Orange and Nutmeg Gin is the Taste of the season. I really wish I had this to enjoy on Christmas Day. As one of my fellow taster’s said, “it’s like drinking a mince pie”. I thought more Terry’s chocolate orange as that rich orange flavour explodes in the mouth with the warmth of the spice the perfect complement. 

Kingdom suggested a pairing with cloudy apple juice and I can’t wait to try it.

 

Finally, The Ginger Spiced Navy Gin certainly packs a punch. At 57.3% you can certainly warm yourself through with this but the strength works in harmony with the strong ginger flavour, and teams beautifully with the Juniper, coriander and cardamom in the base gin. I can’t wait to try this with mango juice.

All in all, An evening combining the most important things in life right now, the spirit to work together, support each other, standing together for the greater good and Gin!

Joking aside, the journey that Kingdom Recommends are taking is one that should inspire us all.

In a time where many live in fear, waiting for the axe to fall, these guys are innovating, creating and putting their not just their necks but their dreams out into the world. For them it is only the beginning, with the promise of not just additions to this already well rounded gin line,  but also the arrival of both a premium and standard vodka and excitingly for me, a ginger spiced rum.

A percentage of profits from these gins goes directly to projects helping the homeless and those in need of a little kindness.

Keep an eye on these, try their products. because they are dedicated to raising our spirits. Has there ever been a more important time for that?

 

Kingdom’s Gin can be purchased through their website today Shop Gin – Kingdom Recommends

and the website has lots of lovely cocktail ideas to fill those long lockdown evenings. We also encourage you to follow them on social media.