create a premium London Dry gin for the UK market which paid homage to King William III in England and II in Scotland, the brand said that they have been surprised to see the product go on to become one of the fastest-growing gins in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. The producers previously said it was only after sales of the gin soared in Northern Ireland that they realised how significant King William was to people here.

Eyebrows were raised two years ago upon the release of King William Gin - named in honour of William of Orange, a revered figure among protestants and some Rangers fans. However, it has already proven too sour for some with a member of the public complaining to the Portman Group’s Independent Complaint Panel (ICP) that the labelling played to “sectarian elements” in western Scotland and in Northern Ireland. It took nearly 80 years for the gin industry to recover with the French-born Irishman, Aeneas Coffey introducing a new still which produced a purer spirit, similar to what we would know today.Nicola Williams, chair of the Independent Complaints Panel, said of the verdict: “The overall impression of a product should always be considered carefully and in this instance, it was a combination of elements that when considered together, created a clear link to sectarianism in a manner that could still be considered divisive and inflammatory today. also appeared without a percentage sign – the panel said this “framed the number as a historical date reference in the context of King William of Orange”.

Heavily subsidised English malted barley exports provided the basis for the rapid expansion of the Dutch distilling industry during the early 18th century. Hundreds of back street distilleries sprung up and within a generation London's slum dwellers were drowning themselves with gin. William and his wife Mary encouraged the distillation of gin throughout their reign, granting permission for anyone to make the spirit in their home if they wanted to.OUR NEW BLOOD ORANGE GIN FROM THE KING WILLIAM TEAM - Our new Blood Orange gin raises a glass to King William, the regal father of gin distillation in the U.