The History of Plymouth Gin

Plymouth Gin, and the Black Friars Distillery where it is produced, have a long and very
interesting past.

Black Friars Distillery, the home of Plymouth Gin, is the oldest working gin distillery in England
and is situated in the heart of the historic port city of Plymouth in the south west of England. It
lies on a small street leading down from the heart of the city to the harbour side.

Black Friars Distillery

The building dates back to the early 1400's with

the most intact part of the distillery, the
Refectory Room – a medieval hall with fine
hull-shaped timber roof built in 1431, being one
of the oldest buildings in Plymouth. It is thus
protected as a national monument and is one
of the city’s most precious heritages.

The Distillery buildings were formally a monastery inhabited by the Black Friars. In 1536 at the
time of the Reformation and dissolution of the monasteries, the former home of the Black Friars
was put to a variety of other uses including being the town’s Marshalsea or debtor’s prison, the
first Non-Conformist meeting place and a billet for Huguenot refugees who fled France for
Plymouth.

The Pilgrim Fathers also spent their last night in England here in 1620 before making the short
walk down to the harbour to set sail on the Mayflower on their epic voyage to start a new life in
America, where they founded a new Plymouth. The Mayflower ship forms Plymouth Gin's
trademark label today.

Black Friars is indisputably the oldest working gin distillery with records of a 'mault-house' on the
premises going back to 1697. However, it was in 1793 that Mr Coates joined the established
distilling business of Fox & Williamson and the distilling of Plymouth Gin began. Soon the
business was to become known as Coates & Co. which it remained until March 2004. This fine
gin has always been made here since and their doors remain open for public tours.
Gin's heyday

Soon after Coates & Co began in 1793, Plymouth Gin

became a firm favourite in the numerous countries it was
shipped to. The gin drinking of the Royal Navy considerably
enhanced gin's prestige as it climbed the ladder of
respectability in Victorian times. By 1850 Coates & Co were
supplying over 1000 barrels of 'navy strength' 57% abv gin a
year to the Royal Navy who mixed it with angostura bitters
or lime for 'medicinal' purposes. Thanks to the British Royal
Navy taking it on board ships all over the world, it was to
become the world's largest volume brand of gin with 1000
cases a week going to New York alone by the 1900's. In
1896 the first ever recipe for a Dry Martini specified
Plymouth Gin (which appeared in Stuart's Fancy Drinks and
How to Mix Them) and by the 1930's Plymouth Gin
was the star of the cocktail era, and is hence the only gin
still around today to be named in numerous recipes in the
renowned Savoy Cocktail Book, still the bible of mixology.

The War Years and Beyond

During the Second World War, because of its important dockyard, the city was subject to
relentless bombing. Plymouth town centre and docks were virtually destroyed in the Blitz of
March and June 1941. Throughout the war look-outs were posted on the roof of the distillery to
watch for German bombs of which one caused a severe fire destroying much of the old company
history and records. However, the distillery remained open for business throughout the war but
sadly production was badly affected due to the rationing of ingredients - its export market
suffered.

After the war came the first of the large-scale reorganisations of the UK distilling industry.
Plymouth Gin then witnessed some of its darkest years passing through several owners who
neglected the brand. In 1996 sales were as low as 5000 cases and the Distillery was close to
shutting down.

The History of Plymouth

Gin

Plymouth Gin, and the Black Friars Distillery where it is produced, have a long and very
interesting past.

Black Friars Distillery, the home of Plymouth Gin, is the oldest working gin distillery in England
and is situated in the heart of the historic port city of Plymouth in the south west of England. It
lies on a small street leading down from the heart of the city to the harbour side.
Black Friars Distillery

The building dates back to the early 1400's with the most
intact part of the distillery, the Refectory Room – a
medieval hall with fine hull-shaped timber roof built in
1431, being one of the oldest buildings in Plymouth. It is
thus protected as a national monument and is one of the
city’s most precious heritages.

The Distillery buildings were formally a monastery inhabited by the Black Friars. In 1536 at the
time of the Reformation and dissolution of the monasteries, the former home of the Black Friars
was put to a variety of other uses including being the town’s Marshalsea or debtor’s prison, the
first Non-Conformist meeting place and a billet for Huguenot refugees who fled France for
Plymouth.

The Pilgrim Fathers also spent their last night in England here in 1620 before making the short
walk down to the harbour to set sail on the Mayflower on their epic voyage to start a new life in
America, where they founded a new Plymouth. The Mayflower ship forms Plymouth Gin's
trademark label today.

Black Friars is indisputably the oldest working gin distillery with records of a 'mault-house' on the
premises going back to 1697. However, it was in 1793 that Mr Coates joined the established
distilling business of Fox & Williamson and the distilling of Plymouth Gin began. Soon the
business was to become known as Coates & Co. which it remained until March 2004. This fine
gin has always been made here since and their doors remain open for public tours.
Gin's heyday

Soon after Coates & Co began in 1793, Plymouth Gin

became a firm favourite in the numerous countries it was
shipped to. The gin drinking of the Royal Navy considerably
enhanced gin's prestige as it climbed the ladder of
respectability in Victorian times. By 1850 Coates & Co were
supplying over 1000 barrels of 'navy strength' 57% abv gin a
year to the Royal Navy who mixed it with angostura bitters
or lime for 'medicinal' purposes. Thanks to the British Royal
Navy taking it on board ships all over the world, it was to
become the world's largest volume brand of gin with 1000
cases a week going to New York alone by the 1900's. In
1896 the first ever recipe for a Dry Martini specified
Plymouth Gin (which appeared in Stuart's Fancy Drinks and
How to Mix Them) and by the 1930's Plymouth Gin
was the star of the cocktail era, and is hence the only gin
still around today to be named in numerous recipes in the
renowned Savoy Cocktail Book, still the bible of mixology.

The War Years and Beyond

During the Second World War, because of its important dockyard, the city was subject to
relentless bombing. Plymouth town centre and docks were virtually destroyed in the Blitz of
March and June 1941. Throughout the war look-outs were posted on the roof of the distillery to
watch for German bombs of which one caused a severe fire destroying much of the old company
history and records. However, the distillery remained open for business throughout the war but
sadly production was badly affected due to the rationing of ingredients - its export market
suffered.

After the war came the first of the large-scale reorganisations of the UK distilling industry.
Plymouth Gin then witnessed some of its darkest years passing through several owners who
neglected the brand. In 1996 sales were as low as 5000 cases and the Distillery was close to
shutting down.

Reference :
Web Site
http://www.plymouthgin.com