Residents from two care homes within the Berkley Care Group have been recognised for creating their own bespoke gin, Golden Hour, which recently won a Master medal at the Gin Masters awards, an internationally respected competition for premium spirits. The gin was commended by judges for its creamy texture and concentrated flavours of lemon oil, coriander, juniper, and buttery spice.

The initiative began last year when Laura Perry, chief executive of the Berkley Care Group, encouraged residents across the group’s 11 homes, who frequently enjoy gin and tonic, to craft a gin tailored to their tastes. In May 2023, residents from Fernhill House near Worcester and Cumnor Hill House in Oxfordshire visited Sky Wave Distillery in Bicester. There, they participated in tasting sessions and selected botanicals to develop a unique recipe.

Rachel Hicks, co-founder of Sky Wave Gin, described the experience as a showcase of the residents’ enthusiasm and creativity. “They had many ideas and it was fascinating to hear the different flavours they wanted to include,” she said. Among those involved were Bob Bell, 87, who has appreciated gin since the 1950s, and Pamela Millett, 75, who grew up familiar with wild juniper berries and described the tasting session as enlightening.

Golden Hour was made using eight botanicals, including coriander, orange zest, cassia bark, and liquorice. The distillery characterised the gin as having a piney earthiness with a sweet undertone from the liquorice and a subtle hint of spice. Master distiller Andrew Parsons noted the challenge of blending diverse preferences into one bottle, highlighting Bell and Millett as the main contributors to the final flavour profile. Following their input, Parsons produced a two-litre prototype for resident approval, which received positive feedback.

The gin’s name draws from a regular Thursday evening tradition at Fernhill House, where residents gather for shared drinks, a practice that has since spread to the other Berkley Care homes. Hicks said the award was an especially proud moment for the partnership: “The black medal we won is rarely awarded, so we were blown away for them.”

Initially, Sky Wave and Berkley produced 150 bottles of Golden Hour but confirmed they are prepared to distil more if demand increases. Residents continue to enjoy the spirit socially, often sharing photos of their gatherings and cocktail creations.