Puddingstone Distillery

Puddingstone Distillery is a small batch gin distillery in Wilstone, Tring, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom known for their Campfire Gin range. The company was founded by Ben and Kate Marston in 2016 and is the first artisan gin distillery in Hertfordshire.[1]

Puddingstone Distillery
IndustryAlcohol industry
Founded2016
HeadquartersWilstone, Tring, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Ben Marston
Kate Marston
ProductsAlcoholic beverages: Gin
Websitewww.puddingstonedistillery.com

History

The brand name 'Campfire Gin' was thought up in February 2014, whilst the name Puddingstone Distillery was finalised in November of the same year. In February 2015, the owners were granted their home-distilling licence by HMRC, officially the first licence of its type to be issued in Hertfordshire.[2] In June of the same year Puddingstone Distillery entered "Dacorum's Den", a Dragon's Den-style grant scheme administered by Dacorum Borough Council aimed to support local businesses, from which they obtained a £1000 grant. Five months later, Puddingstone Distillery launched a successful crowdfunding campaign raising over £20,000.[3]

The following year, construction of the distillery's premises adjacent to the P E Mead & Sons Farm Shop in Wilstone commenced, and was completed in October of the same year. During this time, Puddingstone Distillery purchased two stills, a 50-litre still named Isabella, and a 200-litre still given the moniker Amelia; the names were selected via public vote on Facebook. On 11 November 2016, the distillery opened its doors and the company was formally launched with its first product, Campfire London Dry Gin.[2]

Five months after its initial launch, Campfire London Dry Gin picked up the company's first award – a bronze medal at the 2017 Craft Spirits Awards. Campfire Cask Aged Gin was released in March of the same year, followed by Campfire Navy Strength Gin in April. Six months after Campfire Navy Strength Gin's release, it too picked up an award, as it was named 'Best Gin (Navy Category)' at the 2018 Craft Distillers Awards. During 2017, the distillery also launched its first partnership with a charitable organisation: Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Flowers of the invasive Himalayan Balsam plant were picked from sites the HMWT manage, and were infused in Campfire Gin Special Edition No.1, proceeds from which went to the charity.[4] Puddingstone Pudding Gin, referred to as PUD PUD, was the first seasonal gin created by the distillery, and was launched in November 2017.[2]

Further awards would come Puddingstone Distillery's way in 2018, when they were awarded a trio of silver medals at the 2018 IWSC.[5] In May of the same year, Puddingstone Distillery joined the Gin Guild, an organisation set up by the Worshipful Company of Distillers.[1] A cask aged version of PUD PUD was launched in November 2018 followed by a cherry version in 2019. PUD PUD Cask Gin was rated best Christmas Gin by The Telegraph newspaper 2019. [6]

On 15 January 2019, Puddingstone Distillery's Campfire London Dry Gin was named winner of the 'World's Best Martini Challenge'.[7] Four months later Puddingstone Distillery launched Campfire Old Tom Gin.[8] Puddingstone once again teamed up with a local charity in 2019, this time with the Box Moor Trust. The Box Moor Trust manages Roughdown Common, a SSSI, on which grows Hertfordshire's only known crop of naturally regenerating juniper.[9] After harvesting the berries, Puddingstone Distillery created '1594 The Spirit of Box Moor', in order to celebrate the Trust's 425th Anniversary. The gin was launched on 11 October 2019 with proceeds going to the charity.[10]

Puddingstone Distillery have a shop that opens on Fridays and Saturdays 9.30am to 5pm where you can take part in a gin tasting experience. Puddingstone Distillery also run gin tours on Thursday evenings.

The distillery takes its name from Hertfordshire puddingstone, a conglomerate sedimentary rock that is found almost exclusively in Hertfordshire.[2] Hertfordshire puddingstone is referred to in local folklore as having several supernatural powers, including the warding off of evil spirits.[11]

Gins

Regulars

Seasonals and Limited Editions
  • Domestique Gin (A cycling inspired gin presented in a steel bidon)
  • PUD PUD Gin (A winter seasonal, made by distilling Christmas puddings).
  • PUD PUD Cask Gin (PUD PUD Gin aged first in ex-Bourbon casks. The casks are then refilled with Port for a month, and the gin reintroduced for a second maturation).
  • Special Edition No.1 Gin (Made in collaboration with the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust using Himalayan Balsam picked on the Trusts estate).
  • 1594 Spirit of Box Moor Gin (Made in with collaboration with the Box Moor Trust using juniper grown on Roughdown Common to celebrate the Trust's 425th anniversary).

Awards

Campfire London Dry Gin

Campfire Cask-Aged Gin

Campfire Navy Strength Gin
  • 2017 Craft Distillers – Gin of the Year (Navy Category)[14]
  • 2018 IWSC – Silver Medal (Outstanding)[5]

Campfire Old Tom Gin
  • 2019 Craft Distillers – Gin of the Year (Old Tom Category)
gollark: Except the first ones and the contest or whatever.
gollark: It's so special because I got it randomly without skill!
gollark: Just post a simple thing in S&R.
gollark: It's easy to keep it topped up.
gollark: ↑↑↑↑ to karp

References
  1. "Gin Guild celebrated international growth". Worshipful Company of Distillers. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  2. "About Puddingstone Distillery". Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  3. "About Puddingstone Distillery – Crowdfunder.co.uk". Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  4. "Gin is just the tonic for Hertfordshire's rivers – HMWT". Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  5. "A trio of silvers". Puddingstone Distiller. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. "Pre-order PUD PUD and PUD PUD Cask". Puddingstone Distiller. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  7. "Campfire London Dry Gin wins World's Best Martini Challenge 2019". Puddingstone Distiller. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  8. "Campfire Old Tom Gin cocktail demo". Puddingstone Distiller. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  9. "Roughdown Common citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  10. "Introducting....1594 The Spirit of Box Moor". Box Moor Trust. September 27, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  11. "HHGS – Hertfordshire Puddingstone". Harrow and Hillingdon Geological Society. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  12. "Campfire Gin Cask Aged – Masters of Malt". masterofmalt.com. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  13. "Campfire London Dry Gin awards a bronze medal". Puddingstone Distillery. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  14. "Campfire Gin Navy Strength – Flagship Wines". Flagship Wines. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
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