14 November 2015

Eurostar celebrates 21st birthday with its very own gin

• Designed by Eurostar Business Premier Culinary Director, Raymond Blanc OBE
• Created by Silent Pool Distillers in the Surrey Hills

On the eve of its 21^st birthday, Eurostar unveils its very own gin designed by Business Premier Culinary Director, Raymond Blanc OBE, in partnership with artisan producers, Silent Pool Distillers.
 
Named Toujours 21, the bespoke gin encapsulates Eurostar’s heritage, reminiscent of both British and French cultures. Composed of a mélange of French botanicals and classic floral scents of the British countryside, the rich juniper flavours and citrus traces are blended with the subtle sweetness of honey, creating a balanced gin that is classic yet unique.
 
Raymond Blanc OBE, Eurostar Business Premier Culinary Director, Eurostar, said:
“When designing the gin, my vision was to take travellers on a journey of taste that played upon all the subtleties of the brand. The aromatic notes of lavender hint to Eurostar’s latest Provencal destination, while the delicate yet clean taste of the angelica evoke memories of the British countryside. By uniting such robust flavours, the bespoke gin is the perfect way to commemorate the anniversary.”
 
Partnering with Silent Pool Distillers was a natural fit, as the craftsmen share Eurostar and Raymond Blanc’s passion for sustainable ingredients of local provenance. Nestled in the heart of the rural Surrey Hills, the team create the gin from the crystal clear spring waters in their very own ‘Silent Pool’.
 
Cory Mason, Silent Pool Master Distiller, said:
“It’s been an incredible experience working with Raymond Blanc to create the bespoke gin for Eurostar.  At Silent Pool Distillery, we pride ourselves in hand-making artisanal spirits using local resources and botanicals. With Raymond's wealth of knowledge and understanding of flavours and ingredients, we were able to create something truly unique.”
 
The introduction of the gin marks three years since Eurostar and Raymond Blanc joined forces to transform the on board dining experience for Business Premier passengers. Renowned for his passion and innovative culinary expertise, Raymond works with each of Eurostar’s three kitchens to design seasonal menus combining the best of British and French cuisine.
 
Eurostar is proud to be the first transport provider to receive Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) accreditation as a Two-Star Sustainability Champion for its commitment to sourcing local and sustainably produced ingredients and for pursuing a socially and environmentally responsible approach.
 
Travellers wishing to preview Toujours 21 may do so in the Eurostar Business Premier lounges in London, Paris and Brussels, where it will be launched as part of the drinks offering. It will then be available to purchase online in the coming weeks.
 
Ends
Notes to editors
 
About Eurostar

1. Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.
2. The current Eurostar train was first introduced into service in 1994 carrying 750 passengers and operating at speeds of up to 300kph.  Since then, the fleet of 28 trains has carried more than 150 million passengers between London and the Continent.  Following their refurbishment these trains will continue to form a core part of the Eurostar fleet. The new e320 will carry around 900 passengers at speeds of up to 320kph.
3. Eurostar was established in 1994 as a partnership between three railway companies: SNCF, SNCB and LCR (London and Continental Railways). On 1 September 2010, Eurostar became a single, unified corporate entity owned by three shareholders: SNCF, SNCB and LCR. LCR’s holding was transferred to the Treasury in 2014, and sold by the UK government to a consortium comprising Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and Hermes Infrastructure on 28th May 2015.
4. Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.
5. Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies.  Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates vehicle shuttle services and the Channel Tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.

 
About Raymond Blanc OBE, Chef Patron of Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Born in Besançon, France, Raymond Blanc is acknowledged as one of the finest chefs in the world.  Entirely self-taught, his exquisite cooking has received tributes from most national and international guides to culinary excellence.
 
At the age of 28, Raymond opened his first restaurant, ‘Les Quat’Saisons’ in Summertown, Oxford.  After just one year, the restaurant was named Egon Ronay Restaurant of the Year and was awarded two Michelin Stars.
 
It was in 1984, however, that Raymond fulfilled a personal vision, creating a hotel and restaurant in harmony when he opened ‘Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons’ in Great Milton, Oxfordshire. Celebrating its 30th birthday this year, Le Manoir combines magnificent surroundings with gastronomic excellence. It is the only UK country house hotel to have retained two Michelin stars for the past 30 years.
 
In 1991, Raymond established ‘The Raymond Blanc Cookery School’, welcoming enthusiastic amateurs and professional cooks, as well as children, to the kitchen. The school provides the opportunity for students to develop their skills while learning some of Raymond’s own kitchen secrets.
 
In 1996, Raymond opened his first brasserie in Oxford.  His vision was to be the best within the brasserie scene in England, serving good quality, freshly prepared, seasonal food at accessible prices. Brasserie Blanc now has some 20 brasseries throughout the UK including 7 London locations.
 
Raymond is a best-selling author, and his BBC2 television series have included such programmes as The Very Hungry Frenchman, Kitchen Secrets and How to Cook Well. He is currently filming a new television series with the BBC and Kew Gardens, titled Kew on a Plate, which is due for broadcast in 2015. He is also writing two books.
 
An acknowledged advocate of sustainability, Raymond is Honorary President of the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA), a not-for-profit organisation championing sustainability within the industry.
 
About Silent Pool Distillery
 
The Distillery is located 5 miles east of Guildford in Surrey next to the spring fed Silent Pool.
 
2014 was spent building the site and installing the bespoke 350L Holstein still, tanks and reclaimed English boiler that burns sustainable local hardwood to produce the steam for the still.
 
The distilling licences were granted in October 2014 so the business is a little over a year old, in that time they’ve launched a number of products including the multi award winning Silent Pool Gin.
 
The team specialise in short run bespoke products of high quality where their unique production processes add a unique twist, everything is produced onsite and nothing leaves the site unless it’s in a bottle.
 
They recently responded to the bumper English fruit harvest by fermenting and distilling local fruit into a range of Apricot, Plum, Pear and Quince Eau de Vie’s and they created English summer fruit Strawberry and Blackberry Alcoholic Gin Cordials. They have a number of other small run gins and will be launching vodka before Christmas.
 
The site is open seven days a week for visitors and the popular Gin Experiences can be booked online at www.silentpooldistillers.com
 
For more information:
Eurostar Press Office 
020 7843 5500
press.office@eurostar.co.uk