We’ve seen plenty of male celebrities launch various spirits over recent years — Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson, George Clooney, and so on — and now classical music star Katherine Jenkins has joined the fold as the first female celebrity to create her own gin brand — Cygnet 22.
Katherine was inspired to create her range of premium spirits when she discovered a little-known Welsh spirit distillery just a stone’s throw from her childhood home. Keen to create a luxury spirit using natural Welsh spring water and distilled in her home country, Katherine joined forces with sixth-generation distillers and brewers Aster and Chris Sadler. The master distillers have been integral in the creation of the unique Cygnet Welsh Dry Gin liquid, as well as the development of Cygnet 22.
Katherine says: “Being a professional music artist, I know that passion, perfection and dedication are what you need to create a memorable performance. And so I have crafted my Cygnet Gin in the same way that I have approached my singing career, with the deepest respect for my audience, striving for a ‘best in glass’ experience that reflects all the values I hold close to my heart.”
Cygnet Welsh Dry Gin, with an ABV of 40%, is made using pure Welsh water and 12 botanicals from around the world; almonds, angelica root, chamomile flower, cardamom seeds, coriander seeds, juniper berries, lemon peel, liquorice root, lime peel, sweet orange peel, orris root and pink grapefruit peel. On opening the bottle, that familiar botanical gin smell greets you, but it is subtle and well-blended rather than overpowering. When sampled neat, there is a smooth, glossy mouthfeel, with notes of liquorice, juniper and coriander coming to the fore. Orange and citrus notes come through at the finish, making it just a little sweeter.
Cygnet 22 — slightly stronger at 44% ABV — is distilled with 22 botanicals, the same 12 used in Cygnet Welsh Dry Gin, plus calendula, cassia bark, white peppercorns, bee pollen, lemon balm, sea salt, rose petals, hibiscus and heather. The final flavour comes from the addition of Manuka honey, which Katherine wanted to include for its healing properties — the singer has advocated using this special honey for its throat-soothing properties for many years.
Like Cygnet Welsh Dry Gin, Cygnet 22 has a very subtle aroma, which hints at the liquor within. The juniper and herbs give a warming, slightly spiced flavour, which goes down very smoothly indeed. It is never overwhelming or harsh, balancing the ingredients well to give a flavour which melts from spices to citrus and vanilla with just a hint of sweetness.
Katherine Jenkins adds: “Cygnet combines the finest local botanicals with pure Welsh water and being surrounded by the nature and beauty of the valleys, a whole lot of ‘Hwyl!’ (an ecstatic feeling of inspiration unique to Wales). I’ve also included my ‘secret ingredient’ in Cygnet 22, Manuka honey, which I use to take care of my voice. All of this results in an ultra-premium gin that is so smooth you can sip it on its own.”
Katherine designed the beautiful glass bottles that surround the spirits in collaboration with her husband, Andrew Levitas, the artist and social-impact filmmaker, and Eric Villency, who designed products such as Peloton and RockStar Energy drinks. “It was important for us to make something beautiful but sustainable, and all products across the Cygnet range will come with a promise to walk the walk,” commented Katherine.
The Cygnet 22 bottle is, at a weight of approximately 400g, up to 50% lighter than the average spirits bottle, meaning it requires less raw materials to produce and less energy to transport. It is also recyclable, and the company is keen to encourage consumers to upcycle it as a water carafe or a single-stem vase.
Cygnet Welsh Dry Gin and Cygnet 22 Gin are available to pre-order
in the UK at £35 and £47.50, respectively, and will be rolling out to retailers in the UK and other global markets later this year.
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