Dire Straits’ frontman Mark Knopfler and Portobello Road launch gin

Mark Knopfler OBE, the frontman of London rock band Dire Straits, is partnering with Portobello Road distillery on a new gin flavoured with olive oil.

London-based Portobello Road is launching the third gin in its “Local Heroes” series. Having worked with Notting Hill residents from the culinary world on past editions, Portobello has gone for a star from a different walk of life by teaming up with Knopfler, named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the fifty greatest guitarists of all time.

He was the lead singer, lead guitarist and songwriter of Dire Straits, as well as founder of The Notting Hillbillies.

The artist worked with Portobello Road Gin’s co-founder, Jake F. Burger to create Local Heroes No.3, which combines Portobello Road Gin’s nine signature botanicals with lime zest, fresh cucumber peel and olive oil.

The product launch also coincides with the opening of a new stage musical adaptation of the classic Scottish film, Local Hero, that Mark has composed.

The musical opens on March 23rd at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh before transferring to The Old Vic in May 2020.

Knopfler will embark on a global tour in support of his forthcoming album, Down the Road Wherever, on 25 April.

Previous editions have seen Portobello Road Gin working with Brett Graham, head chef and proprietor of Notting Hill restaurant The Ledbury, and Italian Masterchef judge Carlo Cracco.

“As a gin fan, it is a wonderful opportunity to work with a prestigious brand like Portobello Road Gin to craft my own blend,” Knopfler said.

“This project allowed us to share our vision and I’m incredibly proud of the results. It is robust in flavour and strong in spice – exactly the kind of gin that I enjoy and I hope my fans will too.”

Burger said that the singer was introduced to us by Brett Graham. “After meeting with Mark and his management for lunch and bonding over a mutual love of music and gin, the collaboration was agreed.”

“The addition of olive oil results in a wonderfully smooth finish making it a great gin for Martinis and of course Gibsons, which of course shares its name with the iconic guitar brand.”

Portobello Road is known for working unconventional flavours into its spirits. The distillery created a smoked gin in 2016 to mark the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London. In 2017, as part of its Director’s Cut range – a project launched every year to mark the brand’s birthday and that of it’s founder Ged Feltham – it launched what it claims is the world’s first ‘pechuga’ gin, an expression distilled with an organic turkey breast.

The new gin, which comes in at 42% ABV, will be sold for £40 from Portobello Road Gin’s website as well as the distillery’s bottle shop in west London.