A family-run distillery in the Lake District has launched its own range of craft gins which are now being stocked by some of the area’s best hotels.

Grasmere Brewery & Distillery is owned and run by Beth and Paul Abbot. Unlike many small distilleries, they brew and distil their craft gins from scratch themselves in-house as opposed to buying in an alcohol base.  

The couple says they start first with soft Cumbrian water, ferment a wash, distil their own vodka and then finally distil their dry house gin with fresh fruit and exotic botanicals. This creates three signature flavours: Dry Gin, Blood Orange Gin, and Pink Berries Gin.  

The gins are all full strength at 37.5% abv as opposed to being gin liqueurs, and they are free from artificial colours, flavours and additives.  

The gins are now being stocked and served by places like The Samling, which this year was awarded a Michelin Star, and The Yan at Grasmere, which has become renowned nationally for its award-winning comfort food. They are also available to buy wholesale from McClures of Windermere.

The Westmorland Gazette: Grasmere Brewery & Distillery gins

Beth said: "We first started making gin in 2021. We both felt there was a gap in the Lake District market for a gin that was made from scratch by a locally owned, family-run business.

"We wanted it to be absolutely delicious, beautiful looking, made properly, and also be reasonably priced – ‘craft’ should mean local and awesome - not expensive.

"Since then we’ve experimented with lots of flavours and strengths, trialling them in our Grasmere tap room The Good Sport which has provided us with really valuable feedback and after much research, we had the confidence to begin bottling and selling our gins.  

"We are so proud to see them being served at places like The Yan and are just really excited for the future. We hope many more of Cumbria’s outstanding hospitality businesses will consider stocking us.

"These are exceptional craft products, genuinely made in the Lake District, by a small family-owned business.”

Beth and Paul opened The Good Sport in 2017 and Grasmere Brewery in 2018. As well as their own gins, they also brew and sell their own craft beers and ciders.