First Impressions
Sheffield Distillery operates from what they affectionately call a 'shed in North Sheffield' — but the awards suggest something more serious. Assay St Clement's takes the nursery rhyme literally: oranges and lemons in every possible form. Sweet clementine arrives as peel, whole fruit, and leaves — three expressions of the same citrus. Lemon provides peel and fruit. Pink and black peppercorns, Seville orange, almond, liquorice, and coriander round out an ambitious botanical bill. Bronze at the 2021 International Spirits Challenge.
Tasting
The nose is intense — clementine and lemon zest rushing out of the glass, sweet pink peppercorn with spicy black pepper, a classic juniper hit, and subtle liquorice. On the palate at 45%, a classic mouth-coating texture with clementine and lemon building powerfully. Juniper and peppercorn keep the assertiveness coming. The finish is where this gin excels: oranges and lemons linger far after the other notes have faded. Very, very long.
The Bottom Line
Assay St Clement's earns a 7 — an incredibly bold citrus gin that encapsulates natural citrus flavours in heady juniper and light spice. The triple expression of clementine — peel, fruit, and leaf — is a smart technique that gives this more citrus depth than any single-peel gin can achieve. Best in a G&T with Mediterranean tonic and an orange slice. At £38, serious Sheffield craft from a shed that punches well above its weight.
