Triple Award-Winning Distillery Debuts Gin Inspired by Grisly Vampire Folklore

This new gin is inspired by the old English legend of a vampire. Rightfully so, it includes blood orange as a key botanical. (Photo: Northumberland Spirits Co.)

Triple award-winning craft distillery Northumberland Spirit Co. has added a new juniper-based tipple to its Northern Fables gin collection, where each bottle tells a story from English folklore, according to Northumberland Gazette. The new gin, Castle Vamprye, sources inspiration from the legend of the Alnwick Castle vampire, an old English myth from Northumberland that dates back to the 12th century.

According to the tale, a dishonest man who served the lord of Alnwick Castle fell to his death after climbing the roof of his home to try to catch his wife in the act of cheating. Following his burial, the local town was struck with disease — and townsfolk even spotted the dishonest man walking around the area. In suspecting the man as the cause of the illnesses, the townsfolk dug up his corpse, which appeared bloated with blood, and disposed of it. Shortly after, the diseases and mysterious appearances stopped.

The legend has become a major draw for travelers, attracting tourists from around the world to Alnwick Castle who come in search of the fabled vampire.

Early this week, Neil Osborne, the managing director of Northumberland Spirit Co., offered a bottle of Castle Vampyre Gin to the current Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, who are residents of the Alnwick Castle, Northumberland Gazette reported.

Castle Vampyre gin features tasting notes from blood orange, milk thistle, dandelion and nettle, giving the gin a citrusy base complimented with deeply herbal botanicals. According to Northumberland Gazette, these ingredients were historically used as ancient blood cleanses.

“For a fangtastic taste experience enjoy with a quality tonic, ice and fresh mint,” Northumberland Spirit Co. writes.

Other gins in the Northern Fables range include Laidly Wyrm Gin, based on the ballad “The Laidly Worm of Spindleston Heugh,” and Queen of Elphame Gin, based on the fairy queen character of Lowland Scottish and Northern English folklore. Each bottle features a QR code that tells you the story behind the gin when scanned.

Castle Vampyre Gin is set to be available at the Alnwick Castle shop near the end of March. It is currently sold online through Northumberland Distillery Co.’s website, priced at £36.00 ($44.14) per 39.5% ABV, 70 cl bottle.

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