One of my favourite ever stories involves a scientist, a chicken and an airplane…
Scientists at NASA had built a special cannon to launch standard 6-pound (dead I might add) chickens at the windshields of airliners, running at maximum velocity. The idea was to simulate the frequent incidents of inflight collisions with birds to test the strength of the windshields.
The engineers were excited to see the results of years of hard work and planning. They set up the experiment and even invited several senior aviation representatives, who had championed the funding of this project, to attend. They had a grand ceremony with a countdown.
The plane roared down the runway, and the engineers fired the chicken cannon.
After the canon was fired, the engineers stood in shock as they viewed in horror the damage. The shatterproof glass was smashed to smithereens, there was a huge hole in the control console, the driver’s seat had the head rest blown off, and the chicken was embedded into the back wall of the cockpit. Luckily this was an unmanned test, so no one was hurt (except for the pride of the engineers).
Immediately the engineers began assessing the damages, took numerous photos and measurements and sent a full report, along with their pages of scientific designs, to engineers at NASA to understand what had gone wrong;
“Please help us understand how to resolve this issue. We followed all standard protocols and double checked every safety precaution prior to the test with the chicken cannon!”
In just a few minutes, the engineers were shocked by the rapid response. The head engineer at NASA responded with just one short line in bold, all capital letters:
“DEFROST THE CHICKEN FIRST!”
Now. Whilst hilarious in its own right, you’d be entitled to wonder why I’m regaling this tale of frozen poultry & shattered glass (and shattered dreams of scientists). Well fear not dear reader, as behind this whimsical story is a tenuous link to the feature of today’s review. For speaking of chickens that pack a surprising punch, my latest review features another chicken that doesn’t realise its own strength; Guerrilla Chicken.
Guerrilla Chicken Spirits; Why did the (Guerrilla) Chicken cross the road?…
Launched in Spring 2023, Guerrilla Chicken Spirits hail from Derbyshire, just a stones throw away from my neck of the woods. Formed during a Covid interrupted course at the Bakewell based ‘Brew School’, these muscular hens come with a distinct mission and purpose; that ‘a revolution is not made. It’s in your Spirit’.
But what’s so revolutionary about gin? Whilst it pains me to question whether we may be entering a phase of ‘been there, done that’, what rule book can have possibly been ripped up at this stage of the game? I’m glad you asked…
You see, stating that the team are based a mere ‘stones throw away’ from me is pretty apt – as their shunning of the single use glass bottle would almost certainly stand them in good stead against any stray pebbles & rocks launched from my house!
The team have opted to “challenge the industry by using a reusable flask and refill pouches rather than single use glass bottles”. And whilst fair arguments could be lobbied that reusable vessels are not new (many have featured in my previous blogs) – there aren’t many out there who have launched with zero flagship glass bottles whatsoever. It’s a move that is both admirable for its sustainability and brave in a near saturated market where shelf appeal is everything.
So why have the team opted to go down a route that not many have ventured? They explain it best themselves;
“The process of making spirits is not very sustainable, with lots of energy and water needed. We are going to progressively challenge ourselves to find the most sustainable way to make, package and ship Gin. Our electricity is certified Zero Carbon energy. Each of our deliveries has a measured carbon footprint… We want you to enjoy our spirits and use our reusable flask forever. We would love that none of our bottles need to be recycled and certainly never hit the landfill.”
Fast forward to the current day, and it’s clear to see that this isn’t a gimmick or a flash in the pan. Over the last 3 years, Guerrilla Chicken Spirits have expanded to a core line up of 4 liquids; a Rum, a Vodka and two Gins (the ‘Upriser London Dry’ & the ‘Yuzu and Lemongrass’).
And it’s the Upriser London Dry where we’ll be turning our attention towards.
Guerrilla Chicken; What’s in a name?
Honestly? I have no idea. But I like it. It’s quirky, memorable & sparks a discussion. That alone is worth its weight in gold!
Add to that the sleek and elegant aesthetic of the reusable metal bottle and we’re fast out of the traps to a winning start!
And speaking of winning, it doesn’t take long for the eyes to be drawn towards the medals and accolades that adorn the bottle. We’re not mucking about here.
Available in both Black or White reusable stainless-steel options, that can also be sold as a pair to those who collect (a very smart move indeed) this bottle packs a tonne of character in to a minimalist design. And I love it. The graffiti style branding, representing a punk rock chicken (if there were to be such a thing!) is a clever but alluring design, and tugs at my penchant for small batch craft ethos.
Sustainability and pretty designs are one thing. But all of that matters not if the liquid inside can’t live up to the hype. So what of it?
Guerrilla Chicken Upriser Gin to taste
On the nose, the neat gin carries a citrus sharpness and presents with a really clean and pleasingly simplistic profile. It feels classic and well balanced, with a rounded character of citrus and herbaceousness, and a wisp of white pepper heat on the back notes. A dank and ripe weight of juniper develops as the spirit opens up in the glass, bringing the welcome familiarity of deep pine.
To taste, and the sense of the classics translates nicely across the palate. A lemon peel zest is the first thing to hit the front of the tongue, with a bite of coriander combining nicely with suggestions of hedgerow greenery.
There’s a depth of spicing across the back of the tongue, lingering on the throat, brining a nice warmth to the gin.
If I were to pick any area of fault, it would be that the mouthfeel is perhaps a little bit ‘lightweight’, with a mid-length finish that dissipates sooner than I would really like. But that said, there is absolutely no room for disappointment when it comes to the smoothness of the liquid – it’s silk like. When I read the brands own suggestion that the spirit could be treated as a ‘sipping gin’, I raised an eyebrow (everyone says that). But they’re on the money here – to sip it neat is really rather pleasant!
If I had piece of advice? I’d up the ABV slightly (I’m a 47% boy at heart, but even a nudge up would make a difference for the positive), introducing an increased concentration of the juniper and lemon.
With tonic – citrus and juniper pairs nicely with the quinine. It’s just a tad washed out in the mixer. The depth I’m suggesting from a bolstered ABV could make a world of difference here. That said, it’s clean, sharp and very drinkable – the sort of summer sipper you could enjoy in the garden, with all the refreshment but none of the overwhelming booziness. A lemon peel garnish, or wedge of fresh lemon if you prefer, for the win.
Guerrilla Chicken – Strength in numbers…
After all of this, I’m left with just one concern; longevity.
Whilst the sustainability angle is more important today than it has ever been before, and sure to have a market appeal amongst some home consumers, I worry that the refillable bottles don’t play to the back bars of restaurants and bars. They could of course opt to purchase the refill pouches, and keep their stocks filled – I just don’t know if they will. And in a market where brands are fighting it out for space, that could be a limiting factor.
For me, the brand success will come from leaning in to Social Media, and finding ways to harness ‘gin tourism’ in a way that makes them synonymous as a ‘love brand’ with a loyal following. Distillery tours, on site bars & Gin Schools are proving to be the difference makers for those who do manage to etch their mark on the map.
What I’d really like to see now is the Upriser hitting the gym to boost its power (ABV), or even a new heavy weight champion to be created in the form of a Navy Strength Gin. Could it be named ‘The Silverback’ (different Gorilla I know!), presented in a silver stainless steel bottle? You tell me Guerrilla Chicken…you tell me…
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To stay across all of the latest news from the coop, get following the hench hens of the Guerrilla Chicken Spirits team across their social media & website:
Website: https://guerrilla-chicken.com
Instagram: @guerrillachickenspirits
Facebook: @Guerilla Chicken Spirits
And don’t forget to stop by @theginshelf across all social media platforms for more blogs & event updates. Stop by, say ‘Hi’ & chat gin!
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