WHAT'S IN MY PORTFOLIO

What's In My Portfolio: Katherine Jenkins

08 Apr 2025

Katherine Jenkins OBE, is a classical singer and the founder of Cygnet Gin

Growing up in Wales, gin has always had a special place in my heart. When I studied at the Royal Academy of Music, my teachers taught us to think of our bodies as instruments, which is a key reason why I am very conscious of what I consume. They also warned us of spirits because of their harsh nature and the added sugars/sweeteners/chemicals found in mixers.

When the pandemic happened, I had some time to think about making something for myself – a gin so high in quality that I could enjoy it neat on the rocks. Cygnet 22 is made with the purest Welsh water and 22 of the finest botanicals that are personal to me like chamomile or red grapefruit. One of our key ingredients is Manuka honey – something I swear by in everyday life, for my voice, for my family, and for its healing properties. Whilst our 6th generation distillers (Chris and Astor Sadler) were unsure of this idea initially, the result of adding it into the distillation process creates a liquid so exceptional that it doesn’t need anything else added.

Cygnet is an amazing spirit in its purest, most elegant form, and while I’m humbled by all the awards we have won, it is the unprecedented adoption and support by gin connoisseurs and non-gin drinkers alike that truly wows me. Cygnet is built from the ground up for a very particular and discerning consumer, and I am proud that our female-forward, highly sustainable luxury spirit has crossed borders. We have been obsessive about what goes into our spirit and believe that we all deserve the very best. This goes for our packaging as well. For example, our hand-blown "Eirlys" decanter is both beautiful and sustainable and offers a blueprint for other companies on how to achieve sustainable moral, forward-thinking luxury without remotely compromising on quality. It's handblown, dramatically lighter, and is designed to be future-proof with the hope that the owners repurpose it over and over again.


(Related: Caryn Tang opens up on being a water sommelier)

Once people try Cygnet 22, they sit up and take notice as the liquid truly speaks for itself. Within the industry though, I definitely think Matteo Fantacchiotti joining the business in December 2024 has brought a different kind of attention. He's an icon in the spirits world and it was a "pinch myself" moment when he came on board as Partner and Chairman. As for what lies ahead, we plan to launch in UAE and the USA this year and we’ve also got some exciting news coming in the springtime with two new products that will again be breakthrough liquids in the world of gin.”