Overview: Portobello Road Distillery has partnered with Queen guitarist Brian May to introduce Red Special Gin, a new spirit launching via direct-to-consumer webstore on 8 October. Priced at £39 per 70cl bottle, the release marks a departure from conventional celebrity-endorsed spirits through deep involvement in recipe development.
The Full Story
The collaboration centers on May’s instrumental role in bringing the gin to life from the ground up. He worked with the distillery to develop a recipe utilizing his favorite botanicals, including aromatic sage and calamansi orange grown in his home greenhouse. Portobello Road Distillery describes the resulting spirit as clean, dry and refreshing, combining classic juniper with warming liquorice root for a vibrant citrus finish.
The product features a vintage-inspired bottle design that incorporates a sixpence coin set into the lid, referencing May’s history of using the coin as a guitar pick. Each unit is sequentially numbered to ensure uniqueness within the collaboration. Sir Brian May will hold edition 000001, while Portobello Road Distillery retains edition 000002.
Production & Profile
The flavor profile integrates juniper with warming liquorice root, aromatic sage, and bright calamansi orange to achieve a vibrant citrus finish. Gemma Gilbert, marketing director at Portobello Road Distillery, noted that working on Red Special Gin has been a real joy, highlighting the attention to detail found in the very British homespun ethos of the brand.
What This Means
The distillery stated that this collaboration differs from conventional celebrity-endorsed spirits because May was instrumental in bringing the gin to life rather than simply lending his name. Gemma Gilbert added that working with Sir Brian May has been a real joy, noting the partnership is rooted in a shared passion for craftsmanship, creativity and doing things differently.
Consumer Takeaway
The release offers collectors a unique piece of the collaboration through sequential numbering, with specific editions reserved for key figures. Consumers can purchase the 70cl bottle directly via Portobello Road Distillery’s webstore starting on 8 October at a price point of £39.
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