Tanglin Gin, Singapore’s first gin, has joined forces with Nimbility to expand and build their markets and the Tanglin brand across Asia-Pacific. As a home-grown Asian brand, Tanglin will take its place alongside brands such as Four Fox Saké that Nimbility is championing as quality, local brands that are currently on the rise in Asia.

In 2018 Tanglin’s four founding partners opened the first distillery in Singapore. With a vibrant history as a stop on the Spice Trade Route, Singapore can now claim its very own gin, inspired by the colourful flavours of Asia and capturing the city’s unique cultural diversity by bringing together European, Malay, Indian and Chinese culture in all the Tanglin recipes.

Tanglin takes its name from the once tiger-infested area of Tanglin, where land was originally cultivated to grow spices such as pepper, nutmeg, sireh and ginger, flavours that regularly appear in Singapore’s diverse cuisine. The label shape on the front of the bottle symbolizes the iconic Tanglin Gate, located at the entrance of Singapore’s Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to a stunning array of Orchid Gardens, while the illustration pays homage to the melting pot of Singapore’s different cultures and reveals some of the city’s best-hidden spots and flavours.

“We are very excited to be working with Nimbility,” says Charlie van Eeden, Founding Partner of Tanglin Gin. “Since we have started this journey, we have always known that finding the right partners is vital. Nimbilty will give us the expertise we need to grow our brand around Asia-Pacific. We are ready to work with new importers, distributors and bars, and at the same time, meet as many Gin enthusiasts as we can. Above all, we are a multicultural brand with roots leading straight to the origin of Gin. Our passion and high-quality award-winning Gin have lead us to continuous growth in Singapore. We believe these same attributes will help us on our further journey across APAC. Tanglin will connect Singapore to Japan, Japan to Australia, and Europe to China. With Singapore as a steady port where all influences come together.”

Currently four gins make up the portfolio. These smooth, hand-crafted spirits are made using the finest botanicals like Vanilla and Amchoor (dried mango) to reflect the cultures, flavours and foods of Asia.

Orchid Gin, Singapore’s first gin, has been designed to reflect the cultures and cuisines of its home country. While the usual old world suspects appear such as Coriander and Liquorice, these are backed by Asian ingredients such as Amchoor, Java Pepper and Vanilla Planifolia Orchid. Orchid is significant because it is the National Flower of Singapore and makes the link here between spirit and ancient Chinese texts that extol the virtues of Orchid, one of the immortality herbs. This top-selling and award-winning gin, recently named not only the ‘Best in Asia 2020’ at The Gin Guide Awards but also winner of the Traditional Gin award in the same competition, has a gentle citrus nose followed by herbal and spice notes, a smooth, creamy palate and a slight peppery finish. Perfect served as a G&T with a cinnamon stick or slice of fresh orange.

Mandarin Chili mixes unexpected Asian flavours with old world heritage. Native Asian ingredients such as Young Ginger and Kaffir Lime Leaves, meet Chilli, Cassia and Mandarin Peel. Ginger and Chilli give the taste buds a life with a slight tingle on the lips similar to the effect when indulging in a Tom Yum soup. The nose is all fresh, sweet mandarin citrus with a hint of orange blossom and kaffir lime, followed by more citrus and ginger on the palate and a hint of pepper and tingling chilli on the finish that give this gin an extra dimension of sensory experience. Perfect with a premium Indian Tonic, or soda and a wheel of lime.

Black Powder, Double Gold Winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, is a Navy Strength Gin, inspired by gunpowder, one of the Four Great Inventions from ancient China. At 58% abv this is ideal for cocktails but its super smoothness also makes it suitable for sipping. This gin takes Orchid Gin as its base but head distiller Tim Whitefield tinkered slightly with the recipe by bruising half of the junipers and cranking up the citrus balance for a well-rounded gin with a bright citrus note.

Barrel Aged Gin is created more gently, slowing rolling continuously for a few months, soaking up the goodness of Garrison Brothers Bourbon barrels oak notes. A gin at its heart, a bourbon on the tip of the tongue you can sip this on its own or enjoy with ice.

Initial markets of focus for building Tanglin Gin in APAC will include China, Australia and Japan, incorporating the foundational ‘Spirit of Singapore’ into key activations and consumer marketing initiatives. Focusing primarily on the two key SKUs – Orchid Gin and Mandarin Chilli – a primary focus will be building reputation and visibility for the brand via innovative bartender outreach and engagement, leveraging the close work that Tanglin does with for instance George Cherian Abhishek, owner and barman of two of Singapore’s most eclectic and unconventional bars – Spiffy Dapper and Oriental Elixir (co-owned by Tanglin), and Native, the famous Asia-centric bar that uses spirits and other ingredients sourced only from the Asian region. Native is where the Tanglin Brand launched as being the first Gin Distillery in Singapore, nearly 2 years ago.

“We are extremely pleased to have Tanglin Gin in our portfolio of premium spirits,” says Manuel Arce, Director of Spirits at Nimbility. “As our first Asian gin brand it is both a challenge and at the same time a commitment to our belief in the high potential of locally produced spirits in Asia. Where countries like Japan and Taiwan have been the trend setters, now it is our turn to take Tanglin and the spirit of Singapore into the key markets across the region. Tanglin Gin’s flavour profile is a delight for the senses, it brings a fresh breeze into the highly saturated gin category, with a distinctive south east Asian twist. We are excited to get these gins in front of bartenders and consumers alike as truly believe they will surprise and delight!”

For more information on Tanglin Gin in APAC please contact info@nimbilityasia.com

Tanglin Gin Partners With Nimbility To Build Its APAC Markets