St Davids Gin - A Word On The Raven
Our expert distiller Alex from In the Welsh Wind Distillery accompanied us on an approved foraging expedition to Ramsey in October. The trip created far more than just the flavour of Ramsey Island Gin. While there we met up with the RSPB Warden, Greg, who is a fountain of knowledge about the island. His stories about the history of the Island and its wildlife are captivating.
In particular, we discovered that Ravens have the oldest association with RSPB Ramsey Island of any of the island's breeding birds. Inspired by the history of the Raven, we commissioned a custom piece of beautiful art for the bottle. Every label now features a swirling, majestic Raven, ensuring the bottle captures as much of the spirit of the Island as the Gin itself.
A Word On The Raven
From Greg Morgan, RSPB Site Manager Ramsey & Grassholm
Raven (Corvus corax)
Length : 60-68cm
Weight: 800-1500g
Wingspan: 120-150cm
Lifespan: up to 20 years
UK breeding population: pairs: 7,400 pairs
Ravens have the oldest association with RSPB Ramsey Island of any of the island's breeding birds. The vikings probably encountered them during raids into Pembrokeshire in the 8th-10th Centuries as they named the island 'Hrafn-ey', old Norse for 'Raven's Isle'. Over time this name morphed into the familiar 'Ramsey' in use today.
Between 2-4 pairs breed each year on the island's wild cliffs, building a large ramshackle nest from heather branches. Fed on a diet of rabbit and seabird eggs, in a good year up to 4 young will fledge per nest. Pairs can mate for life, using the same nest site year after year.
In autumn, flocks of up to 100 birds gather to take advantage of the glut of grey seal afterbirth as the pupping season gets underway.
With an impressive vocal repertoire of 33 call types, the majestic male raven, the 'sentinel', guards the precious territory year round, the skies of Ramsey filled by his tumbling display flight and loud, unmistakable calls announcing the island as his own.