From the shelf
Everything we have from Mermaid
Click on a bottle for the rest of the details.
A gin that tastes of its own coast
Many brands say they work locally; here it is demonstrable. The sea fennel is picked on the chalk cliffs of the island, the hops come from the botanical garden of Ventnor, the elderflower from the fields next to it and the strawberries for the pink version from the Arreton Valley.
That produces a gin with a salty edge and a peppery note of grains of paradise. If you are not sure which one you need, give us a call. That is what we are here for.
The three bottles we have in stock
Mermaid Gin
The classic bottle: ten herbs, with sea fennel from the chalk cliffs.
€ 44,99
The first distillery on the island
- The distillery in brief
- 2014Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett start the Isle of Wight Distillery.
- 2015The first Mermaid Gin is released.
- Sea fennelHand-picked from the chalk cliffs.
- SustainablePlastic-free packaging; the house supports the restoration of seagrass meadows.
The Isle of Wight is an island off the south coast of England, and until 2014 no distilling was done there. Xavier Baker and Conrad Gauntlett changed that; their Mermaid Gin appeared in 2015 and quickly became the island’s best-known product.
The main botanical is rock samphire, a small succulent that grows on the cliffs and is rich in vitamin C. Sailors once used it against scurvy. Locally it is called the mermaid’s kiss, and that is where the gin’s name comes from.
Of the ten botanicals, then, a part literally comes from the island. It is distilled in column stills and only the middle part of each run is used, which makes the gin softer.
Rock samphire once gave shipwrecked sailors something to hold on to: where it grew was the tideline, and therefore safety.
What is rock samphire?
A salt-loving little plant that grows on rocks and along the tideline. It tastes briny and herbal, a bit like a cross between fennel and seaweed. In gin it does not give a real salty taste but rather a hint of sea air, the same effect you also find in Edinburgh Seaside and Nordés.
Frequently asked questions about Mermaid
How much Mermaid does ’t Bockje have in stock?
Three bottles: the classic Mermaid Gin, the Zest and the Pink.
Where does the name come from?
Made from sea fennel, the main botanical, which on the Isle of Wight is called the kiss of the mermaid. It grows on the chalk cliffs of the island.
What is rock samphire?
A salt-loving little plant that grows along the tideline. It tastes briny and herbal and gives the gin a hint of sea air, without actually being salt.
Which botanicals does it contain?
Ten, including juniper, coriander, lemon peel, grains of paradise, angelica root, liquorice, orris root, elderflower, hops from the Ventnor botanic garden and sea fennel from the cliffs.
Which Mermaid should you try first?
The classic bottle. The Zest is fresher with grapefruit and rosemary; the Pink is sweeter thanks to the strawberries.
Does ’t Bockje also ship Mermaid abroad?
Yes. We ship to around forty countries. Email info@bockje.nl if you want to know whether your country is included.
Order, collect or drop by
- In stock in our shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen
- Available to order online and have delivered, including abroad
- Order online or collect in Bathmen
- Personal advice via 0570 541 278 or info@bockje.nl
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 09.00–18.00, Saturday 09.00–17.00. Closed Monday and Sunday
Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18.
All 3 bottles at a glance
Each bottle shows the details from the label.
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Brink 2, Bathmen
All our stock is in the shop, not in a warehouse somewhere else. If you walk in with a name you couldn't find anywhere, it is often simply here on the shelf. You can also call: 0570 541 278.
Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18
- Tuesday to Friday 09.00 – 18.00
- Saturday 09.00 – 17.00
- Monday and Sunday closed