Donkey Jack gin was the first gin in the Driftwood portfolio. It’s a London dry style of gin with a strong juniper backbone that showcases the citrus elements of sweet orange peel and dried lemon zest to perfection.
This is a smooth gin that forms the base for many cocktail recipes, and the tangy elements of lemon play well with vermouths making it the perfect companion for a dry martini.
Donkey Jack is based on an American detective called Ken. Ken worked for 25 years in the murder and gang strike force.
When asked why Ken worked for so long in a job where the worst side of human society was on show every day, his answer was “some people are just born to protect and serve!” He also introduced us to the work of Lieutenant Dave Grossman who inspired him to continue everyday.
Retired Lieutenant Dave Grossman developed a categorisation for people; they were either sheep, wolves or sheepdogs. He believes...
“If you have no capacity for violence you are a healthy productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, you have defined an aggressive sociopath: a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path”. Which one do you think you are?
Upon retiring Ken bought a small farm and some sheep. Over the course of a week, he lost 13 sheep to a pack of coyotes. Needing a full time guard, he bought a well known protector animal and named him Jack. Jack the donkey grew up thinking he was a sheep and fulfilled his role as sheepdog, protecting his wards day and night.