Heston Blumenthal has developed a new dry gin flavoured with Earl Grey tea and lemon for the new autumn/winter range at Waitrose.

The Heston from Waitrose Earl Grey & Lemon Gin launches on 1 October (rsp: £22/70cl) and is the first spirit for the chef’s range at the supermarket.

It is distilled with traditional botanicals including juniper, almond, coriander, orris root, liquorice, lavender and angelica and is infused with the perfumed tea that is a personal favourite of the celebrity chef.

G & Tea is produced by Chase Distillery and is one of several flavoured white spirits to launch exclusively at Waitrose in the run-up to Christmas alongside Sipsmith Damson Vodka, Belvedere Bloody Mary Vodka and Bramley & Gage Six O’Clock Gin.

Waitrose spirits buyer Herchelle Perez Terrado reported a 13% year-on-year increase in sales of gin.

“Gin is the trendiest tipple around,” she said. “The scope for creativity in the blend of botanicals is what makes gin so special and this Heston from Waitrose gin is no exception.”