J.J. Whitley

JJ Whitley is a recent venture by drinks manufacturer Halewood International, not to be confused with the Whitley Neill gin has been part of Halewood’s portfolio since 2009. The JJ Whitley range was launched in 2016 and is named after John James Whitley, the first of the revered Whitley family, who began distilling their own homemade gin in 1762. J.J. Whitley was launched with the express intention of marketing a brand that would appeal to a youthful demographic. The focus on new flavour combinations and artful design is due to this ambition to expand the Halewood International customer base. However, the choice of inspiration for the brand name suggests that as a brand they’re conscious to root its product within traditional British heritage and values. JJ Whitley initially counted four spirits among its stock, two gins and two vodkas, but they have since added a third gin, which includes a flavoured elderflower gin, a London dry model and the intriguing nettle-based edition, which is their most recent venture. The gins are distilled to 38.6% in homage to Dmitri Mendeleev, who had recommended to the Tsar that alcohol and water molecules combine perfectly at 38.6% abv. The experimentation doesn’t end with gin, however, the two vodkas that conclude the line-up feature a a rhubarb vodka that contains natural rhubarb extract and 100% potato vodka.