Our Blackcurrant Ghost is a highly aromatic spirit which wrestles the big bold flavours of the blackcurrant into an elegant smooth fruit spirit. Drunk like a gin with tonic, it’s a delightful and fruity drink without any of the sugary intensity of the childhood version!

Why the Blackcurrant?

Here at Greensand Ridge we work with surplus produce, harnessing flavours in produce no longer suitable our food. But where does Ribena fit in?

Growers love working with Ribena as they have a loyal customer who gives accurate quotas to farmers so they know what they need to harvest. But they need to maintain a sufficient crop for the best year, so there can often be an oversupply of fruit which isn’t harvested.

Ribena stop pressing berries at the end of July, so that’s when we get involved. Our farmers harvest any surplus fruit and then we take it back to the distillery and get to work.

The Distillation Process

A combination of fermentation and steeping, the distillation of a blackcurrant is technically challenging. Too cautious and the flavour is too light and won’t stand up to a tonic or cocktail. Too aggressive and unpleasant, bitter aromas are released. Find the right balance and a perfectly aromatic spirit is revealed with a juicy fruity mouthfeel and a fruits-of-the-forest aroma that is at once familiar and original.

Serving Suggestions

If you want to experience the spirit like the Germans do their schwarze johannisbeeregeist then enjoy chilled in a sipping glass and plenty of time! But for us Brits, the best way to drink this is with a plain tonic and a big garnish of Mint and berries, or a bit of citrus zest.

Alternatively, make a classic sour, or substitute wherever you might otherwise reach for Gin or Vodka be it a classic martini, a Tom Collins or a French 75.