British Airways has introduced its very own exclusive brand of gin for premium customers.

Available now, the specially made tipple – British Airways Gin – will only be served to the airline’s First customers, from the bar of the prestigious Concorde Room at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

It has been blended for British Airways following extensive taste tests with First customers at the Concorde Room bar in London, by the award-winning Cambridge Distillery, the world’s first ‘gin tailor’.

The main botanicals used in the exclusive herbaceous gin (aside from juniper) are basil, rosemary and thyme, which are all grown in the distillery gardens in Cambridge.

A gin and tonic is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks served on British Airways flights – the airline’s customers sip more than three million of them every year.

Troy Warfield, British Airways’ director of customer experience, said: “We know how popular a gin and tonic is with our customers in the air and we are sure our new British Airways Gin will go down a treat with our customers flying in First.

“The Concorde Room is the epitome of exclusivity on both sides of the Atlantic, so what better place to raise the bar and serve up this delicious new bespoke British Airways Gin to our most premium customers.”

William Lowe, master distiller and owner of the Cambridge Distillery, said: “British Airways customers deserve the best, so we are thrilled to offer those flying in First this amazing new British Airways Gin, served exclusively from the Concorde Room.

“We take enormous care making our gins. For British Airways we collected the basil, rosemary and thyme from our very own gardens and distilled them separately to ensure the temperature of distillation of each botanical was just right, then carefully blended them to make British Airways Gin.

“We label each bottle with the British Airways Speedmarque and wax seal them by hand here in Cambridge to create a truly unique product.”

The Cambridge Distillery is among the most highly awarded in the world and has come first in every single international competition it has entered.

As well as making British Airways Gin, the Cambridge Distillery also make a blend especially for The House of Lords, which is on sale in Parliament.

Another specially-made blend includes a variety named the world’s most expensive gin – Watenshi Gin – using a refined technique, which sells for an eye-watering £2,000 a bottle.

Customers flying in First with British Airways can enjoy dedicated check-in and Fast Track access to a network of exclusive luxurious lounges around the world – including the prestigious Concorde Room in London’s T5 and New York’s JKF airport – to relax, dine and drink fine wines and champagnes before their flight.

From 2017, customers flying from T5 will be able to use The First Wing entrance, a brand new and enhanced private check-in area for First customers, offering an exclusive security lane, direct to the British Airways’ Galleries First lounge and through to the airline’s flagship Concorde Room.

Once on board, customers have their own private, spacious suite, with a fully flat bed, complete with mattress and a crisp white cotton duvet, ensuring a very comfortable night’s sleep.

Or they can unwind watching thousands of hours of the latest movies and TV shows thanks to British Airways High Life Entertainment on widescreen TVs, and enjoy delicious five star in-flight dining served by attentive cabin crew at 35,000 feet.