The Story behind Johannistag Navy Strength Old Tom: Special Edition Gin

To mark and pay tribute to an event that shaped WW1 and the Orkney Islands forever, we were commissioned by a descendant of Admiral of the Fleet John Rushworth Jellicoe to create a very special commemorative Scottish Gin. Cold compounded and bottled at 57% our new Johannistag Navy Strength Old Tom was released as a batch of 500 at the end of November 2018, to coincide with the date the German Imperial Navy entered Scapa Flow.

The second, and final 500 bottles will be released in June 2019 to commemorate the last event that would forever place Scapa Flow in the history books for its importance in WW1.

After the Armistice was announced it was decided that the German Imperial Navy should be taken off the high seas and it was agreed the fleet would be harboured at the Royal Navy’s base at Scapa Flow in Orkney. This was agreed as part of the Armistice that brought an end to WW1.

Whilst negotiations took place over the fate of the ships, which were still crewed by German sailors, under the command of Admiral Ludwig von Reuter. It had been rumoured the fleet would be divided amongst the allied powers, and out of fear of this possibility, the Admiral gave the order to scuttle the fleet.

The name 'Johannistag' is German, and translates to Mid Summers Day, or St John’s Day. The botanicals in Johannistag reflect Orkney's summer climate, with a smooth Old Tom style finish, lightly sweetened using Orcadian honey sourced in Shapinsay, one of Orkney's North Isles.

A percentage of the profits from the sale of these special edition bottles will be donated to Orkney's RNLI.

Botanicals include: juniper, Orcadian honey, rose, and heather flower.

Enjoy with a good quality Indian tonic with clementine.

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