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A view of two gin and tonics from above.

Let us tell you all about our favourite Cornish gin brands!

Right here in Cornwall, we are lucky to have such an amazing range of Cornish gins. The craft-gin scene has certainly taken off in the last 10 years alone, and these Cornish gins are the proof in the pudding.

From wacky Cornish-inspired combinations, to classic and traditional botanicals, our favourite Cornish gin brands span a wide spectrum of flavours.

Relaxing on holiday in St Ives or Carbis Bay is the perfect time to enjoy a refreshing G&T. So we thought we’d take a little look at what each of these Cornish gin companies have to offer.

Read on to discover some of the best Cornish gins…


Use these links to jump to your favourite Cornish gin:</span


Curio

A bottle of Curio Wild Coast Gin.

Launched in 2014 by husband and wife duo William and Rubina Tyler-Street, Curio dares you to “take a sip of the sublime”.

Distilled on the Lizard Peninsula, Curio uses “age-old ingredients” to create “attractive and flavoursome” tipples.

These ingredients include natural Cornish spring water, locally foraged botanicals and hand-picked herbs.

Their signature Cornish gin, and first product released in 2014, is Wild Coast Gin, formerly Rock Samphire Gin.

Wild Coast Gin is made with hand-foraged rock samphire, local seaweeds and fragrant botanicals. Winning several awards over the years, this Cornish gin is four-times distilled.

Two bottles of Curio Gin Raspberry and Blueberry.

“Light, fresh sea spray and wild aromas of the Cornish coast” are what you can expect. The main ingredients are balanced beautifully with juniper, citrus, cinnamon and star anise, creating a delicate and light character

Curio was also the first gin distiller in the UK to use recycled glass bottle manufacturers right here in the UK.

Curio offer two other gins:

  • Blueberry & Lime
  • Cardamom
  • Cocoa Nib Vodka
  • Yuzu & Mandarin
  • Raspberry & Vanilla
  • Cornish Cup

Tarquin’s Cornish Gin

A bottle of Tarquin's Cornish Dry Gin on the beach.

Founded in 2012 by Tarquin Leadbetter, Tarquin’s Gin is a true product of Cornwall.

At just 24 years old, Leadbetter quit his day job and returned to his home in Cornwall to surf and distil on repeat.

Using just a small 0.7 litre copper pot, Tarquin fine-tuned his recipe over the course of 2 years. Then in 2014, he opened the first Cornish distillery for 100 years.

Two bottles of Tarquin's Gin on the beach.

The distillery now makes 6,000 bottles of Cornish gin a day and is a popular favourite across the UK, not just in Cornwall!

Some of our team were lucky enough to enjoy a distilling masterclass at Tarquin’s Gin School in St Ives. It is the perfect activity for any gin-lovers when holidaying in St Ives!

Tarquin’s Handcrafted Cornish Dry Gin is now joined by 9 other ingredient combinations:

  • Pink Lemon, Grapefruit & Peppercorn
  • Black Cherry
  • “The Seadog” Navy Strength
  • Passion Fruit & Peach
  • Rhubarb & Raspberry
  • Sunshine Blood Orange
  • British Blackberry
  • Pink Grapefruit & Elderflower
  • Strawberry & Lime

Trevethan Cornish Gin

A bottle of Trevethan Grapefruit and Lychee Cornish Gin.

Originally created and perfected by Norman Trevethan, Trevethan Gin dates back to the 1920s. Offering a “true taste of Cornish heritage”, this handmade gin has a complex flavour.

Made with a secret family recipe, Trevethan Cornish Gin contains traditional botanicals like juniper, coriander, and cassia. As well as more unique ones, like orange peel, cardamom and even vanilla.

To add that extra taste of Cornwall, Cornish elderflower and gorse flower are “handpicked from the hedgerows of Trewonnard Dairy Farm in Treneglos”.

A bottle of Trevethan Chauffeur's Reserve Cornish Gin.

Norman Trevethan kept a special gin, Chauffeur’s Reserve, for only his esteemed family and friends. It’s definitely a gin to be savoured at a strong 57%, Chauffeur’s Reserve is Trevethan’s answer to Navy strength.

Discover more Trevethan combinations:

  • Chauffeur’s Reserve (Navy strength)
  • Honey Oak
  • Grapefruit & Lychee
  • Passionfruit & Orange
  • Rhubarb & Apple
  • Zesty Lemon
  • Mixed Berries

Elemental Cornish Gin

A bottle of Elemantal Cornish Gin on a rock in Cornwall.

Produced in a distillery at the bottom of the owners’ garden is Elemental Gin. Proudly bearing a Made in Cornwall seal, Elemental Gin began its journey in 2013.

Seven years later, Elemental changed hands to Nicki and Joe Woolley, and the traditional gin-making process continued.

Two bottles of Elemental Gin Raspberry and Spring Citrus.

“Capturing the essence of Cornwall in every bottle”, Elemental use local ingredients, like spring water from Bodmin Moor.

Their classic Elemental Cornish Gin has won silver at the London Spirits Competition 2021. It also took home gold in 2020 at Taste of the West: South West England.

Their Elemental Apple Gin won at The Gin Guide Awards in 2021.

The rest of the Elemental Gin range looks like this:

  • Blackberry & Sloe
  • Spring Citrus
  • Apple
  • Raspberry

The Wrecking Coast Distillery

A bottle of The Wrecking Summer Strawberry Girl Gin.

With many botanicals foraged locally, The Wrecking Coast Distillery is another truly Cornish creation.

The Wrecking Coast began with two friends, Avian and Craig, who enjoyed sampling and exploring craft gins.

From pre-rugby match gin and tonics to putting a business plan together, the pair set up shop in Tintagel.

The brand name references the many shipwrecks that occurred on that area of the coast in times gone by.

All the spirits that The Wrecking Coast Distillery offer are created, designed, produced and bottled in North Cornwall.

A bottle of The Wrecking Coast Clotted Cream Gin.

One of their signature flavours is Clotted Cream Gin, made using real Cornish clotted cream! They use a unique approach of building the gin around the clotted cream, creating a velvety richness. It’s perfect on its own served on ice, or with a tonic and fresh strawberries for a liquid cream tea!

A newer addition is their Heli-Gin. This unique tipple is special, not only for its spicy, citrusy flavour. But because every bottle purchased helps raise money for Cornwall Air Ambulance.

The Wrecking Coast Distillery offering:

  • Summer Strawberry
  • Honey Sloe Gin Liqueur
  • Scurvy Gin Navy Strength

Just a note to say that we would always advise to drink responsibly and the products mentioned are all only for persons aged 18 and over!


Find some more Cornish tipples to tickle your fancy with our guide to traditional Cornish beers. Or read the complete Cornish cider guide.


This post was adapted from original content by Tony Townsend.