the Adventurous Spirit

Northwest Passage Arctic Explorer Gin

Buy Arctic Explorers Gin

The Inspiration

Northwest Passage Arctic Explorer Gin is inspired by 19th Century explorer John Rae, and modern-day adventurers Mark Agnew and Davie Flett.

John Rae was an arctic explorer who in the 19th Century made the discovery that King William Land was not a peninsula but an island and in doing so discovered the strait that was the final link in a navigable Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans.

In 2023 Mark and Davie followed in the footsteps of John Rae. Mark Agnew was part of an expedition that was the first to successfully kayaked the Northwest Passage in a single season. In the same year Davie Fleet was part of an expedition that attempted to row the Northwest Passage.

Northwest Passage Arctic Explorer Gin is inspired by the courage and determination of these Arctic Adventurers.  Profits from the sale of the gin  are going to help the restoration of the Hall of Celestrain, the birthplace of John Rae.

John Ray

John Ray was a ships Surgeon who became a legendary arctic explorer. He is most well-known for his part in the search party looking for the lost Sir John Franklin Expedition and for finding the final link in the search for the Arctic’s Northwest Passage. He discovered that King William Land was not a peninsula but an island and so the Rae Strait was the last link in a navigable Northwest Passage sea route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. In 1852 he was awarded the Founder’s Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society.

Mark Agnew

Mark Agnew grew up in Edinburgh with a passion for the great outdoors. His first love was rugby but after moving to Hong Kong he slowly began to replace his time on the pitch with time in the mountains and on the sea.
This led him to a life of adventure, which has included sailing, kayaking, climbing, coastal and ocean rowing. Marks first two major expeditions were attempts to row across the Atlantic Ocean. He failed twice. They left him devastated and his confidence was shot. He realised he had become too focused on world records and the adulation of success. Mark reminded himself why he wanted to be an adventurer in the first place. He wanted an immersive experience in nature and to build bonds with his teammates.
Having reminded himself of these intrinsic motivations, Mark joined the Arctic Cowboys Northwest Passage expedition. In 2023 he and his team made history when they kayaked the Northwest Passage. They were the first to kayak the historic route, and the first to complete it by human power alone. Mark earned himself the title European Adventurer of the Year.
The Northwest Passage expedition took 103 days during which they battled through frozen seas, had terrifying encounters with polar bears, had narwhal swim alongside them and they had to endured freezing temperatures. Though it was a great success and won him praise the world over, what really made the expedition special for Mark was the sense of wilderness and sharing it with his teammates. Mark works as a journalist and a keynote speaker.

Davie Flett

Davie Flett was born and raised in Orkney, is a proud Orcadian. Sport has played a big part in his life, being a keen rugby player and Rower.
His ocean adventurers start in 2011 when he was part of a crew that rowed a traditional Ness Yoal from Shetland to the Faroe Islands covering the 200 miles in approximately 45 hours. He founded the Orkney Rowing Club and in 2016 was featured on the BBC programme Britain’s Ancient Capitals in which they were looking to see if it was possible to row long distance thousands of years earlier using technologies of the day. They constructed a boat from Willow tree branches and cowhide and succeeded in making a crossing of the Pentland Firth in just under five hours.
Davie is proud of his Orcadian heritage and the links the island has to the Northwest Passage and Dr John Rae. It was because of these links that in the summer of 2023, Davie was part of a team crew that attempted to row the Northwest Passage in a single season, by human power alone. The initial challenge was tough enough with the ocean rowing boat being motored and towed to the start line at Pond Inlet from the UK. The expedition then embarked on its row from Pond Inlet on 17th Aug, coming up against extremes of weather, freezing temperatures and high winds.
Unfortunately, after facing difficult weather conditions and a boat found to be at the limit of its capabilities, the attempted was abandoned on 14th Sept 23, close to Cambridge Bay. For Davie it was an amazing experience, rowing against strong freezing winds, continually being wet and cold, and coming face to face with the Arctic’s number one predator, a polar bear. Whilst it was not how he wanted the expedition to end, he describes it as an experience of a lifetime, walking in the footsteps of some amazing explorers, one that he will never forget. Davie is Pier Master in Kirkwall, Orkney, and a member of the Kirkwall RNLI.

Exploring the Arctic is not for the faint hearted. The harsh but beautiful environment has enthralled explorers over the centuries and Northwest Passage Expedition Arctic Explorer Gin,  distilled with botanicals associated with the route, is a gin to be enjoyed, a truly Adventurous Spirit.

Mark Agnew - Adventures to Date

2018 - 2019 - Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – Failed

2023 - Arctic Cowboys Kayak of the Northwest Passagee – Completed in 103 days. Workd Record for being the first to kayak the historic route, and the first to complete it by human power alone.

Future Adventures

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Davie Flett - Adventures to Date

2011 - Part of a crew that rowed a
traditional Ness Yoal from Shetland to the Faroe Islands covering the 200 miles in 45 hours

2016 - featured on the BBC programme Britain’s Ancient Capitals in which they were looking to see if it was possible to row long distance thousands of years earlier using technologies of the day. They constructed a boat from Willow tree branches and cowhide and succeeded in making a crossing of the Pentland Firth in just under five hours. 

2023 - Part of a crew that attempted to row the Northwest Passage in a single season, by human power alone. Unfortunately, after leaving Pond Inlet on 17th August and facing difficult weather conditions and a boat found to be at the limit of its capabilities, the attempted was abandoned on 14th September, close to Cambridge Bay.

Future Adventures

?

John Rae Northwest Passage Expedition Gin

Northwest Passage Arctic Explorer Gin is inspired by 1900 century explorer Dr John Rae, and modern-day adventurers Mark Agnew and Davie Flett.

Northwest Passage Arctic Explorer Gin

Adventurers Drinks Co

Northwest Passage Arctic Explorer Gin

Adventurers Drinks Co
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Northwest Passage Arctic Explorers Gin, the Adventurous Spirit, is inspired by 19th century explorer Dr John Rae, and modern-day adventurers Mark Agnew and Davie Flett.

Crafted in Orkney it embraces its adventurous back story with its unique flavour coming from the botanicals found on the twin shores of the mighty Hudson Bay and Orkney Islands.

The unique flavours are drawn from Sugar Kelp, Angelica Archangelica, Ramanas Rose, and Burnet Rose. The Angelica root adds a hint of sweetness that is balanced by a subtle, floral note from the roses. The addition of lemon peel and calamondin brings the bright, citrus notes to the gin and the sugar kelp adds a mild saltiness to the palette, connecting the spirit to the sea.

A percentage of profits from every bottle of the Adventurous gin go toward the John Rae Society, and their mission to conserve The Hall of Clestrain, birthplace and childhood home of John Rae. To find out more, visit the John Rae Society 

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The Adventurous Spirit

Gin has a long association with adventure, especially on water. As far back as 1829 Booth’s Gin was the sponsor of the adventurer John Ross, who took his ship, Victory, to the Arctic. 

In the 19th Century the British Navy found themselves traveling across the world to destinations where unfortunately malaria was prevalent. They brought quinine to help prevent the disease and as it tasted awful, Indian Tonic Water was used to make it palatable. Gin accompanied the sailors on these voyages, being in fashion at the time and making a better cargo than beer, as the latter quickly spoiled. Eventually the two liquids were combined to form what is now the classic gin cocktails. Limes were added due to their anti-scurvy properties, thus birthing the term limey, a name for sailors.

It therefore appears appropriate for gin to be the perfect spirit to celebrate exploration of the arctic over the centuries.

Small Batch Gin

John Rae Northwest Passage Expedition Gin is made in small batches, at the Kirkjuvagr Distillery in Orkney, whose own brand celebrate their Viking heritage. 

Unique Flavour

Created on the classical foundations of juniper and coriander together with the botanicals found on the shores of the Hudson Bay, including Sugar Kelp, Meadow Sweet and Boarge, its unique flavour reflects its arctic backstory.

Arctic Heritage

The gins arctic heritage comes from botanicals found on Orkney and the shores of the Hudson Bay, and the use of water taken from the same source that supplied the ships of Captain Cook and Sir John Franklin.