The Lurgashall winery near Midhurst, West Sussex, which is known for its Silverbirch wine and mead, has started making its own artisan spirits.
Under the name Blackdown Spirits, in what will be Sussex's first distillery, husband and wife team Sarah and Nathan Thompson are selling a gin, vodka and a vermouth. The spirit is currently made in Cambridgeshire but the duo have plans to create a distillery onsite in 2014. With a background in plumbing and heating, Nathan plans to build the still.
Sarah said: "It's a natural route for us to go down – we've been using gin and vodka at the winery for 40 years to make liqueurs, sloe gins and elderberry Port, among other things. We don't use any grapes at all."
The gin's point of difference is Silverbirch sap, which is added after distillation and said to enhance the freshness of the gin. "It's a readily available to us – we sit on 40 acres of Silverbirch trees. It has a really clean flavour to it – it was a natural thing for us to look at."
The pair have also taken the unusual step of making a vermouth.
"Nobody's making a white vermouth in the UK, we don't think. It has been built around my palate because I enjoy it that much," added Sarah.
There are currently around 200 bottles of each product and the duo is about to agree on a distribution deal, following a successful two days at Imbibe Live.
