In Newent, close to the ancient woodland of the Forest of Dean, our friends the Bentleys preserve this area’s long history of fruit growing. Their orchards, bountiful with plums, apples, pear and walnut, are a tribute to their care and intimacy with the landscape.

The Bentley’s Victoria plums, a variety first introduced in the 1840’s, make up the lion’s share of this stunning eau de vie. Small amounts of other traditional plum varieties including gages, Reeve’s Seedling and Opal, add further complexity. Gently crushed, avoiding any damage to the stones, they are fermented with their own wild yeast. To maintain the delicate balance of fruit and almond notes, the stones are removed by hand sieving the moment before distillation.

Very floral, the perfumed nose carries fresh plums and violet with hints of prunes and a lacing of spice. Rich, sweet and full, the palate maintains these fresh floral notes with deeper prune flavours, cinnamon and almond adding intricacy and balance.