Masons of Yorkshire Gin

Masons was the first gin to be produced in Yorkshire and now has several variations including Orange and Lime Leaf Gin and Masons Tea Edition Gin, reviewed here.

The English county of Yorkshire has such a long brewing tradition that it’s amazing to discover that it didn’t have a distillery until 2013. The distinction of being Yorkshire’s first (legal) distillery goes to Masons of Yorkshire, founded by Karl and Kathy Mason in Leeming Bar, close to Northallerton. In fact if you’ve ever driven the A1 you’ve driven right by them, so next time when they’re open for visits again, just take exit 51 and they’re two minutes away.

Masons of Yorkshire Original Gin

Masons first gin, The Original, is still their flagship gin and it’s won a Gold Medal at the World Gin Awards in both 2018 and 2020.

Masons of Yorkshire Gin Range

Since their first gin this Yorkshire distillery has expanded its range with some tasty-sounding variations, including a Pear and Pink Peppercorn Gin and an English Lavender Gin. Masons was the first company to release an English Lavender Gin, and that too has been an award-winner. It picked up a Gold in the San Francisco Spirits Competition 2019, an award for Best British Contemporary Gin at the World Gin Awards in 2018, and in the same year a Double Gold at the China Wine and Spirits Awards.

Oh yes, and just for good measure their Pear and Pink Peppercorn Gin has also won a Gold at the World Gin Awards and Gold at the China Wine and Spirits Awards in both 2018 and 2019. These are clearly seriously good gins.

Masons Orange and Lime Leaf Gin

Masons Orange and Lime Leaf Gin is my first chance to taste one of these Yorkshire gins, though it’s brand new and so hasn’t won any awards yet. It’s only a matter of time, though, as this 42% ABV gin is superb.

On the nose the delicate notes of orange and a refreshing hint of lime balance with the juniper perfectly, and the balancing act is repeated on the palate where those delicate tastes are also joined by a dash of spice. It’s a gin that’s easy to drink neat or on the rocks, but we also tried it with some Fever-Tree Tonic and it made for a deliciously different gin and tonic that definitely made you want another. You don’t need to add anything to it other than ice, though Masons suggests a lime leaf as a garnish.

Masons Tea Edition

Now tea is something you definitely associate with Yorkshire… though not so much with gin. Well, not until Masons decided to add some Yorkshire Tea to their botanicals for this unusual flavour of gin.

It turns out to be quite an inspired choice. There might be some mental associations going on, but the very subtle tea taste seems to bring out the lemon aroma and taste more, as well as spices you’d associate with India, like cardamom and coriander. Again, it’s perfect for a simple yet unusual gin and tonic, and Masons also recommends trying it with Fever-Tree Lemon Tonic or Double Dutch’s Cucumber and Watermelon Tonic. Just don’t try it with milk and two sugars.

More Gin Awards

Masons Tea Edition has proved just as successful at picking up awards as their other gins, including Gold Outstanding at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2019, Best British Contemporary Gin at the World Gin Awards 2019 and a Gold at the 2017 New York Wine and Spirit Competition.

Masons Gins

As a proud Lancastrian I usually think that the best thing to come out of Yorkshire is the M62 to Manchester, but I’ll definitely make an exception for these outstanding gins.