Poetic Licence Northern Gin
Poetic Licence Northern Dry Gin: a bold, award-winning Sunderland craft gin of piney juniper, warming cardamom, zesty Persian lime and peppery spice, finishing fresh and lingering.
Type
Country
Producer
Featured Flavours
Alcohol %
43.2%
Serving Size
- 25ml
Suggested with
In Cocktails
Poetic Licence Northern Dry Gin is a gin with real character, poured crystal clear and bursting from the glass with a vivid, aromatic nose. Piney juniper leads the way, joined almost immediately by fragrant green cardamom, crushed coriander seed and a bright twist of lemon and lime zest. Underneath sits a gentle floral note of orris and a dusting of white pepper, giving the aroma a lively, almost invigorating quality that announces this is no shy, mainstream gin.
On the palate, Poetic Licence Northern Dry Gin delivers a confident, full-bodied entrance. Juniper and cardamom take centre stage, perfectly balanced against the warming bite of black and cubeb pepper. Earthy angelica root provides depth and structure, while the signature Persian dried lime brings a sweet-sharp citrus edge that lifts the spice and keeps every sip fresh and moreish.
As the gin opens up, more subtle layers reveal themselves. Delicate rose petal softens the spice, a cooling hint of eucalyptus adds a herbaceous brightness, and the citrus evolves from zesty peel to something rounder and almost confectionery-sweet. The higher 43.2% strength carries these botanicals beautifully, giving the gin a rich, oily texture that coats the palate without ever feeling heavy.
The finish of Poetic Licence Northern Dry Gin is long, clean and enlivening. Pine-fresh juniper and aromatic cardamom linger alongside fresh coriander, lime and a final tingle of peppery warmth. It is a gin that rewards slow sipping, inviting you back to discover something new in each glass, and a superb example of modern English craft distilling.
Poetic Licence Northern Dry Gin was born on the seafront at Roker, just north of Sunderland. Founder Mark Hird spent over two decades in hospitality, rising from trained chef to owner of a dozen venues including the Roker Hotel, and after being inspired by the craft distilling boom he teamed up with brewer Luke Smith from his Sonnet 43 Brewery. The pair studied distilling, completed an IBD course in late 2014 and formally launched the project in early 2015, making it Sunderland’s first distillery.
The name Poetic Licence reflects the philosophy behind the gin. Hird explained that it stems from a desire to do things differently, with independence giving them the freedom to break conventional rules in pursuit of something tastier. The gins were designed to stand apart from mainstream brands and deliver a genuine punch of flavour. Poetic Licence Northern Dry Gin made its public debut at the Boutique Bar Show in London in September 2015, launched alongside an Old Tom Gin and Graceful Vodka.
Since then, Poetic Licence Northern Dry Gin has built an impressive reputation well beyond the North East. It has won five spirits awards, including Master at The Gin Masters 2016, bronze medals at the International Spirits Challenge in 2016 and 2017, and silver in the London Gin Premium category in both 2019 and 2020. Today it is recognised as one of the standout small-batch gins from the North of England.
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