First Impressions
Sussex — England's historic hop-growing county — provides both the name and the signature botanical for Mayfield Gin. The approach is meticulous: each of the eight botanicals is distilled separately in a copper pot still, and the individual distillates are then blended. This allows precise control over how much of each botanical character makes it into the final spirit. The Sussex hops are the headline act, but they operate with remarkable subtlety — a background floral note rather than the bitter assault you might expect.
Tasting
Eight botanicals: juniper, coriander, angelica root, orris root, liquorice, lemon peel, orange peel, and Sussex hops. The nose is zesty — lime and orange citrus, pine-fresh juniper, cracked black pepper, and parma violets from the orris root. On the palate, dry and piney with pronounced cracked black pepper and cinnamon spice, sea salt, zesty citrus, and faint floral hop notes adding complexity. The finish is dry with pepper warmth and a gentle bitter-floral hop close. The individual distillation technique keeps every element distinct.
The Bottom Line
Mayfield earns a 7 — a gin that uses Sussex hops with intelligence and restraint. The separate distillation of each botanical is not a shortcut; it requires more time, more stills, and more skill than communal distillation. The result is a gin where hops add dimension without domination, and where black pepper and orris violet provide unexpected depth. Best in a G&T with light tonic and a twist of grapefruit. At £35, well-crafted Sussex gin with a genuine point of difference.
