A HISTORIC village venue has introduced a new product to its repertoire.

Hedingham Castle has partnered with a renowned London distillery to create a new product, DeVere Finest Gin.

The gin merges tradition and innovation to offer a drink with a hint of history and a dash of fine craftsmanship.

The castle provides inspiration for the gin, which includes a unique infusion of handpicked linden flowers.

The flowers are harvested for just two weeks each year from the ancient lime trees filling the castle ramparts.

The picked flowers are then mixed with a high-quality London Dry Gin, creating a singular blend.

Jason Lindsay, owner of Hedingham Castle and a direct-line descendant of the de Veres, the Earls of Oxford, is the mind behind DeVere Finest Gin.

Mr Lindsay said: "I had an epiphany during lockdown, realising how amazing the castle would look on a square bottle"

He got in touch with Sam Galsworthy from Sipsmiths and eventually teamed up with Thames Distillers in London.

Their key contribution was introducing him to head chemist, Gema Zaragoza Alvarez, to collaborate for crafting DeVere Finest Gin.

By not reinventing the wheel, but adding linden flowers to Thames Distillers' well-crafted base gin, the partners have created a unique gin blend.

The debut of DeVere Finest Gin happened at this month's jousting weekend.

Mr Lindsay said: "Mellow and smooth with a subtle fragrance were the buzzwords of the day, and this has made us very excited for the future, knowing we have created a seriously good gin."

Coming in square bottles inspired by the castle's architecture and donning hand-drawn illustrations reflecting the estate's long history, each bottle of DeVere Finest Gin is a testament to careful crafting.

It is said to have a taste of herbaceous linden honey and juniper lend aroma, while citrus notes from the Coriander Seed lend a unique taste.

A pleasing bitterness and spice linger on due to savoury and Angelica Root.

The gin is anticipated to be popular amongst visitors and add a personal touch to celebrations held at the castle.

It can be purchased directly from their website, at events held at the castle or from local vendors and fairs near the estate.