In this Camino Talk, we chat to Tom Cartwright, the founder of Camino Gin – a company that makes gin in the UK that is flavoured with a special combination of botanicals found along the Camino Frances.
The Camino inspires many people to create many things. For some this is a book, or poetry, or paintings, for Tom it was unique, Camino inspired gin.
Tom’s Journey from University to Camino Gin
Tom’s journey to the Camino began when he realised that the courses he was doing at university weren’t for him. He was struggling to figure out what to do next when a friend recommended that he walk the Camino de Santiago. After watching The Way and doing a bit of reading, Tom started planning his pilgrimage on the Camino Frances.
Starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, as many pilgrims do, Tom met plenty of people along his Camino. One of those people, an Italian man, introduced him to the idea of foraging for edible plants and mushrooms as he walked. This planted the seed for Tom’s Camino Gin.
Tom partnered with a local gin distiller and carefully selected botanicals from along the Camino Frances to infuse. After plenty of sampling and testing, they found a full and interesting combination and Camino Gin was born!
Small Batched and handcrafted. Camino Gin is copper distilled with 17 carefully selected botanicals. 13 of which are native to the French Way of the Camino de Santiago. This dry and adventurous gin takes the drinker on a journey through wild hedgerows of Blackberry, Elderflower & Dandelion. Fragrant fields of Lavendar & Cornflower. Forests of Moss Dew and Earth. Sweet trees of Orange & Fig to bountiful orchards of Wild Cherry & Bilberry Fruit.
Camino Gin is a homage to the Camino de Santiago. Created by a pilgrim who fell in love with ‘The Way’.
Where to Try Camino Gin
The gin is now available online and in a growing number of bars, pubs, restaurants, hotels and other establishments across the UK.
In the future, Tom hopes to walk more of the Camino routes and create a gin for each of the ways, using botanicals unique to each region.
We can’t wait to taste them all!
Walk the Camino like Tom and so many others have – get in touch! We would be delighted to help you plan your perfect customised Camino.
