The UK’s leading gin – that’s Gordon’s by the way – “is launching its biggest ever innovation with the introduction of a new collection of flavoured gins”. So reads the press release. The “innovation” refers to Gordon’s Crisp Cucumber, which is “blended with natural cucumber flavouring” and designed to be mixed with tonic, and two pre-mix variants in cans – Gordon’s & Tonic “with a hint of cucumber” and Gordon’s & Tonic “with a dash of elderflower”. 

This flavoursome initiative will be supported by a £1m through-the-line marketing campaign, and is “designed to offer outlets the opportunity to capitalise on the growing consumer trends towards both gin and flavoured spirits”. 

So what has spurred this sudden bout of altruism? Well, no doubt it’s the fact that gin is experiencing strong growth according to Nielsen – up 12% in the on-trade and 5% in the off-trade, while the cans segment is up a whopping 23% (respective MATs week ending January 5 2013). 

This is the first happening in the Gordon’s camp for almost 10 years, when the company launched Distiller’s Cut which, at 40% abv and with its distinctive lemongrass and ginger botanicals, was definitely a “cut” above the Gordon’s norm, but inexplicably it was withdrawn in 2009. However, unlike Distiller’s Cut Gordon’s Crisp Cucumber, like its parent brand, weighs in at a disappointing 37.5% abv. 

I don’t know what it is about Diageo and gin, but the multinational always seems to miss the boat – particularly when it comes to Gordon’s. Indeed, Gordon’s fall from grace – it’s no longer considered a strategic brand by Diageo – would have been unimaginable back in the old DCL days when it was produced at the distillery in London’s Goswell Road and when it was the hallmark of quality gin.

Now, thanks to the accountant’s blue pencil, the gin is produced up in Scotland and over the years its quality credentials have been undermined, but of course the worst blow of all was under the United Distillers regime, back in the 90s, when its strength was reduced to 37.5% abv.

It should be pointed out that, at that time, although it’s hard to imagine now, gin per se was teetering on the brink of becoming a commodity spirit. Internationally it had been routed by vodka and white rums – well, Bacardi to be precise – and this state of play was attributed to the fact that these spirits were allowed to be sold at 37.5% abv in the EU, ergo they could sell at a cheaper price than gin, which still had to be 40% abv. 

So the rules and regs were altered to allow gin to compete on a level playing field in EU countries, and continue its downward path into the commodity graveyard. But, tellingly, a few brands – notably Beefeater – steered clear of the option as the fact is that alcohol carries flavour, so what is the point of adding all these botanicals if at the end of the day the flavours do not carry through.