TASTE OF SUCCESS
The success of Ribble Valley Gin continues unabated, leading to the founders looking for new premises in which to expand their artisan business
Since launching their first Little Lane signature gin, Ribble Valley Gin has enjoyed ongoing success – with their most recent spirit, Kingsman Gin, being made exclusively for the Duke of Lancaster’s regiment and enjoyed by the Queen!
As Colonel in Chief to the regiment, the Queen was sent a bottle of Kingsman following a request from Buckingham Palace: “We were delighted when the palace responded to an email saying that, yes, the Queen would very much like us to send her a bottle!” explain company founders Justine Harrison and Luke Moyes.
It has been a project close to the couple’s hearts, Luke having served with the regiment. They set out to formulate a unique gin to support the regimental charity that helps serving soldiers, veterans and their families, and having extensively researched the regiment’s history, have created the gin to reflect the regiment’s heroic achievements.
Using botanicals that grew on the battlefields and to symbolise significant celebration days, has resulted in a complex zesty gin as Justine explains: “We have used red rose petals to symbolise St George’s Day, poppies to commemorate the Battle of the Somme and orange zest to reflect the regiment’s presence at the Battle of Arroyo.”
After taking out their distilling costs to make the gin, all proceeds from Kingsman go to the regimental charity.
Joining the hugely success Kingsman in the Ribble Valley Gin line-up is:
• Little Lane Gin: a unique layering of rich and delicate botanicals creating an elegant dusty floral and hedgerow gin, this gin perfectly reflects the Ribble Valley countryside. Botanicals include stinging nettles, blackberries, oak, meadowsweet and pine.
• Country Market: this second signature gin pays homage to the simple vegetable patch and the traditional country market for a contemporary take on a classic gin. Bringing together juicy tomatoes, carrots and sweet shallots, gives it a subtle savoury and slightly sweet finish. Botanicals also include beetroot, peppers, basil, pink peppercorns and wild thyme.
• Garden Party: a summer gin, created to celebrate the beautiful English garden. Using rose, honeysuckle, strawberries, marigold and hibiscus giving this gin light fruity and flora notes throughout. Garden Party gives you a true sense of summer, perfect for the warm summer nights.
• Winter’s Night: taking inspiration from Christingle this combines peppery citrus with smoky black cardamom. It is the perfect tipple to warm you through the festive season. Botanicals include, mistletoe herb, sloe berries, cloves, cinnamon and winter thyme.
Longridge-based Ribble Valley gin uses a copper still sourced from Kentucky to make their hugely popular spirits that have been so successful that Justine and Luke are now on the lookout for larger premises.
“Ideally we need to build a larger distillery and we would also like to see a gin school in there and maybe a pop-up shop – that’s our plan. We are very excited about the future for Ribble Valley Gin!” adds Justine.
Ribble Valley Gin
Little Lane, Longridge, Preston PR3 3NS
01772 597791
ribblevalleygin.co.uk
