Merridale Launches Cowichan Gin With Two-Day Celebration

Merridale will launch their new Cowichan Gin on June 12 and 13. The craft cidery and distillery will celebrate the new craft gin as an addition to their Cowichan Spirits Line by holding two days of events focused on the foraging of wild, edible foods.
Merridale’s new Cowichan Gin will be released on June 12. Over 20 wild and native botanicals foraged from around the Cowichan Valley have been used in the distillation process, resulting in what the family owned and operated company is calling a “truly terroir gin”. Deciduous and coniferous trees, ground cover herbs and roots, and native berries have been sourced for the craft spirit. The craft gin is infused using a combination of traditional gin techniques. The origin spirits are made entirely from fruits and aged in stainless steel tanks for more than 3 years to soften the finish.
As owner and distiller Rick Pipes, says, “Gin provides a broad range of opportunity for the distiller to be creative, much like the process of our cider making.  The Cowichan Valley offers a huge variety of botanicals that beg to be used in our Cowichan Gin.”
Since 2007, Merridale has released spirits such as an organic malt whisky, Stair’s Pear Brandy, and Cowichan Cider Brandy. Merridale will continue to release all their craft spirits under the Cowichan name.
As Merridale’s co-owner Janet Docherty says, “The intention is to honour our home and the beautiful Cowichan Valley.”  The craft distillery is housed on the 20-acre property where the craft cidery has been in operation since 1990. In 2012, Master Blender and Swiss-trained French Winemaker, Laurent Lafuente, began working with Pipes to continue the vision of creating craft spirits.
For more details on the special events being held on June 12 and 13, visit MerridaleCider.com