Highclere Castle Gin, a season gin sponsor at Newport Polo, brought together its U.S.-UK ties during an Aug. 30 USA vs. UK match. In partnership with Jonathan Pogash, The Cocktail Guru, the brand hosted an exclusive cabana party, where guests sipped bespoke Highclere Castle Gin neat and in cocktails such as the Bee’s Knees and Gin & Tonic while they enjoyed an elevated English tea party experience. Highclere Castle Gin, which debuted in 2019, was founded by Connecticut-based spirits entrepreneur Adam von Gootkin, who serves as its CEO, in partnership with Lord and Lady Carnarvon, who own and reside in Highclere Castle. The connection between Highclere and the equestrian sport runs deep. The storied English estate, an iconic location for centuries and more, contemporarily serves as the set for “Downton Abbey” and has a rich legacy of horse training and racing dating back centuries. The super-premium London Dry Gin is made with botanicals from the iconic castle’s herb garden, using juniper, orange peel, lime flower, lavender and Highclere’s estate-grown oats. Founder and CEO von Gootkin had the honor of performing the official coin toss to kick off the match. The brand’s presence was felt throughout the grounds, with Highclere Castle Gin featured in all seven bars across Newport Polo. Highclere’s paddocks once hosted legendary thoroughbreds, including the 1920 Derby winner, and today the tradition of horses, heritage and hospitality remains central to the Highclere name. The brand is distributed in Connecticut by Connecticut Distributors Inc. and across Rhode Island via Johnson Brothers.