The Haymans are Gin royalty. They have been around for over 150 years and their Gin dates back to 1863, when they were first founded by James Burrough.
Burrough was a pharmacist who bought a Gin rectifier in London and began to create his own product. He wanted to innovate and craft a new Gin, and within months was making high quality spirit.
His company took off and he began selling Gin under the Burrough name and with the help of his two sons, the brand soon became a global Gin powerhouse.
The company thrived into the 1900s, and this is where the Haymans become involved.
Neville Hayman was married to Burrough’s granddaughter, Marjorie, and played a massive part in maintaining the company’s reputation and sales in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Again, the brand was thriving and in 1987 was sold to Whitbread, a brewing company, leaving behind its family roots.
However, some of the Haymans were not content to say goodbye to their Gin roots, and a few decades later, James Burrough Fine Alcohols Division Limited was bought back by Christopher Hayman, who is Marjorie’s son.
Today, the company is operated by Christopher and his children, James and Miranda, keeping it firmly in family hands.
They opened their distillery in 2013 in Whitham, East Anglia and brought in a brand new copper pot still, lovingly named Marjorie, after the matriarch of the family.
The family still use James Burrough’s original recipe and create a wide range of Gins, including an Old Tom, a Sloe Gin and a London Dry.
The London Dry is a perfect example of their traditional yet refreshing style. Hayman’s maintain a classic feel but create a Gin that fits perfectly alongside other contemporary brands. It has won the Best Gin at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
This is a finely crafted Gin, created using ten botanicals that are all measured by hand, including juniper, angelica, coriander, lemon peel, orange peel, cassia bark, orris root, cinnamon, nutmeg and liquorice.
The nose is full of juniper and orris root, with a nice subtlety to it. there is a delicate spice on the nose as well, with the coriander and cinnamon coming through.
The palate is refined and eloquent, with more piney juniper flavours and lots of orange and lemon peel. The citrus notes are mouth watering and combine well with the other flavours.
The spices are present on the palate as well and add a nice warmth to it.
The finish is typically dry, with more juniper and a slight nod towards angelica and sweet coriander.