James May Launches His Own Craft Gin

Best known for being one-third of the TV show, The Grand Tour and Top Gear, alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, James May has turned his hand to the production of craft gin with the launch of his own gin brand!

The brand, named James Gin, launches with a gin called Asian Parsnip Gin. Inspired by May’s love of travelling and his homeland of Britain, the ingredients combine parsnip, lemon peel, lime, spices of Asian influence and most importantly, juniper.

Announcing his new venture into the exciting world of gin, May said: “Ever since my mother gave me some as a baby, I’ve been fascinated by the taste of gin. Much later in life, I bought half a pub, and was struck with an idea: what if I created a gin of my own, to serve to the customers?”

The first limited-batch of Asian Parsnip Gin has produced 1,420 bottles, and each one has been personally signed and numbered by the man himself. Due to the public’s enthusiasm for the gin, the product has already sold out, however he is now making a second unlimited-batch to meet the demand.

“The gin will be exactly the same, but it will not be signed and numbered, because I can’t be arsed, and it will be unlimited. As a result it will be slightly cheaper. So, in essence, a more presentable bottle not defaced with the scrawl of an infant, at a better price. Order now for shipment in August.” – James May

A launch video for the gin, made with FoodTribe, features James May alongside Master Distiller of Downton Distillery, Hugh Anderson, who James called upon for his expertise at the beginning of the project. Watch the video here to see the process behind the making of Asian Parsnip Gin.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioI0EIUerTQ[/embedyt]

If you’re wondering what the gin tastes like, it features “nutty, sweet parsnip, redolent of the damp soil of the English countryside, and that sparkle of spices that will have thrilled anyone who has travelled in India or South-East Asia, or had a take-away.” – James May

James May’s Asian Parsnip Gin (70cl/ABV 40%) is currently available only in the UK and can be pre-ordered through the James Gin website by clicking here, priced at £39.