FOUR friends from Somerset have launched their first gin after founding a new distillery during the pandemic.
After enjoying long careers in restaurants, food and drink retail, IT and the music industry, Steve Downey, Simon Green, Dave Stanley and Allan Smith wanted a fresh challenge and had the idea to open the Somerset Distillery last summer.
After finding a site in an old quarry in Backwell, a village south of Bristol, they started distilling the Somerset Distillery Dry Gin, a London Dry-style gin, using state-of-the-art computerised stills.
They distill small batches of 100 bottles per run, and the gin is left to mature for at least five weeks, which allows the oils in the botanicals to infuse and creates a refreshing flavour.
Steve says Simon's experience leading restaurant kitchens helped the team create their unique juniper-led gin using six botanicals.
He said: "There are many gins out there but the quality varies enormously which is precisely what inspired us.
"We felt from day one that we would be able to use our experience to create an exceptional range of Somerset spirits.
"We are all of the opinion that you can over-think and over-use botanicals in your recipes.
"Distilling is pure science and our goal is to be masterly in our recipe creations."
The Somerset Distillery's first gin is now on sale in pubs restaurants - including Mark Hix's Dorset pub and Lyme Regis fish restaurant - off-licences, and online.
Steve said: "A very high percentage of retailers are tasting and then buying which is very gratifying after 18 months of planning and physical hard work to build the distillery."
Now, the team is looking at creating a second product to reflect the area of Somerset they are based in.
"Our second gin is in the pipeline and, with a nod to our Somerset heritage, we will be incorporating a local apple, the Backwell Red, into our botanicals," added Steve.
"We have already hand-processed and dried our apples for use in the coming months."
Somerset outlets stocking Somerset Dry Gin include Aimee's Wine House in Stoke Bishop and Backwell, Lye Cross Farm Shop on the A38, and Vintage and Vine in Clevedon.
It is available to buy online from the distillery's website at a price per bottle of £35 for 70cl.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here