Isle of Wight Distillery’s complete range of Mermaid gins, vodka and rum will make its TFWA World Exhibition and Conference debut at next week’s event in Cannes (Red Village K6).
Isle of Wight Distillery Co-Founder Xavier Baker said: “We are excited to be showcasing the Mermaid range at TFWA in Cannes for the first time this year. Mermaid is starting to fly in travel retail in the UK and we’re looking forward to meeting new contacts to expand our global network at the show.”
Mermaid Gin is a small-batch, beach-to-bottle London Dry Gin crafted on the Isle of Wight using ten ethically sourced botanicals.
The gin features a smooth yet complex blend of fresh organic lemon zest and peppery grains of paradise, with a hint of sea air from locally foraged, fragrant rock samphire.
The distillery notes that the rock samphire is ethically foraged at its peak to preserve the native plant for the next season. 
Other botanicals include elderflower from local fields and Boadicea hops harvested from Ventnor Botanic Gardens along with English coriander, angelica root, liquorice root, juniper and orris root.
The Mermaid Pink Gin is described as aromatic and refreshing, crafted with a combination of Mermaid gin and fresh island strawberries grown in the rich and fertile microclimate of the Arreton Valley.
The expression is made with ‘wonky’ strawberries that would otherwise have gone to waste. It is described as perfectly balanced, subtle yet vibrant, and less sweet than most pink gins with no added sugar.
Mermaid Zest Gin is made with Mermaid Gin enhanced with grapefruit, Cascade hops, Island bergamot, lemon zest and wild-foraged coastal rosemary. It offers a light yet complex zesty spirit with subtle sweetness and herbal notes.
The liquid contains the ‘dew of the sea’, coastal rosemary foraged from the Island’s shores. It is also made with fruits grown in the Victorian walled garden of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s Osborne House.
Mermaid Salt Vodka is grain distilled, with a subtle Wight Salt rock sea salt for smoothness. Each batch is handcrafted in a column still and features locally blended spring water.
The vodka is characterised by a delicate vein of salt, which creates a back note that makes it an ideal ingredient and flavour enhancer for cocktails or a classic dirty martini.
Mermaid Spiced Rum is produced using Caribbean rums from Trinidad and the Dominican Republic that are finished at the Isle of Wight Distillery.
Aged between two and five years in oak bourbon whiskey barrels, the liquid is infused with the distillery’s signature botanical rock samphire, fresh white cherries, apricots, honey from their beehives and black salt from the island’s coastal flood tides.
The rum is gently spiced with local holy grass, cassia and vanilla, imparting a smooth yet complex rum with a hint of sea air, delicate caramel notes and vibrant fruity spice. ✈
