Yorkshire Dales Fine Gin Delicious

Unit 7C Easton Way, Colburn, Catterick Garrison DL9 4GA, UK

Distillery toasts successful first year

27th April 2018

By Mike Bridgen

A NEW spirit maker is going from strength to strength on the back of a strong Yorkshire brand and distilling excellence.

The Yorkshire Dales Distillery was established at Colburn just a year ago but it has established itself in a highly competitive market and is now expanding.

Founders Tony and Sarah Brotherton outlined their year of success and their plans for the future during a visit to the distillery by Richmond MP Rishi Sunak.

Mr Brotherton, a retired Army officer who served 18 years with the Royal Artillery, said the business now employed six people with the recent recruitment as production assistant of REME Veteran Kael Place. An apprentice will start shortly.

He said: “We are very pleased with the progress we have made in our first full year. Artisan gin is a very competitive market but we now have more than 100 outlets selling our products and we have plans to expand that distribution network.”

Mr Brotherton said the key to the success of their three gins and one vodka was local provenance. The Swale Valley water – drawn from a borehole near Richmond – and botanicals sourced from the surrounding area produced notably smooth spirits.

With a masters in brewing and distilling from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Mr Brotherton said the company was all set for further expansion.

As well as growing the distribution network, the company was seeking to exploit export opportunities and develop new products.

The distillery has already diversified its portfolio, producing own-label gin for Weetons deli in Harrogate and teaming up with other local producers like Katie’s Kitchen Preserves at Bellerby which makes a Yorkshire Dales gin and pink grapefuit marmalade.

The distillery’s expansion is being assisted by a Government-backed Start-up Loan. The money is being used to boost stock levels and help with the initial costs of recruiting new staff.

Mr Sunak, who was given a tour of the distillery, said he was very impressed with the operation.

“It is great to see a new business established by local people get off to a good start and I am delighted to hear that the Government has been able to assist with its expansion plans.

“The distillery’s commitment to local sourcing of ingredients and people is exemplary and I wish them every success in the future.”

AWARD WINNING

YORKSHIRE GIN, RUM & VODKA

Providing sustainable and meaningful training and employment to Service Veterans and Dependants, young people, ex-offenders and the long term unemployed.

PURPLE RAM

LONDON DRY GIN (40% abv)

£31.95

A classic take on the ultimate London Dry Gin. With hints of pink grapefruit peel and the subtle yet creamy aroma of locally sourced honey, this beautifully crafted gin is both balanced and bold allowing you to create the perfect G&T.

TASTING NOTES

THE NOSE

Rounded soft tones with prominent juniper and cardamom notes. A delicate bloom of orange blossom, followed by warm sweet spice.

THE PALATE

Silky, tactile and sweet to start, with a burst of clean cinnamon, juniper spice with orange and grapefruit. Medium to light body, rounded with the delicate fragrance of honeysuckle.

THE FINISH

Long and balanced. Peppery juniper body, followed by mellow resolve of sweet nuts.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

WILD RAM

YORKSHIRE BERRY GIN (45% abv)

£33.95

This premium London Dry Gin is NOT a fruit flavoured gin – despite its’ name. For this exceptional spirit, we have distilled real fruits to harness their extra dry flavour profile. With lashings of gooseberries, redcurrants and blackberries, and an extra helping of juniper, we feel this gin is a real winner!

TASTING NOTES

THE NOSE

Soft tones of red fruit blend perfectly with inviting juniper. Gentle and rounded. Aromatic sweetness moves into fragrant citrus.

THE PALATE

A burst of pink flavour, balanced savoury redcurrant and blackcurrant sit nicely in a backdrop of juniper. Light, smooth texture rolls into plum, cranberry, hemp and touch of pine.

THE FINISH

Tart redcurrant seed mellows into warm softness of strawberry cheesecake, leaving you wanting more.

DESERT RAM

ARMY STRENGTH LONDON DRY GIN (50% abv)

£36.95

Close your eyes and think of Arabian nights under a cloudless sky. Taste the subtle sweetness of the succulent dates and the warming spice from the hit of cardamom. Lovingly crafted by the co-founder, with a nod to his time served in the Military, this exceptionally smooth gin is perfect to sip over ice with a sliver of grapefruit peel.

TASTING NOTES

THE NOSE

Bold juniper and warm citrus, confident and intriguing. This opens out nicely into a sweet peppermint haze, followed by gentle pine notes.

THE PALATE

A smooth, thick sweetness followed by a wave of orange peel and cardamom. Warming, musky wood notes followed by aromatic floral tones and candied rhubarb.

THE FINISH

Enduring finish of juniper and strawberry, with a hint of clove. Pure nostalgia.

YD HONEYED RHUBARB GIN

(40% abv)

This delicious full-strength gin is a delicate nod to the rhubarb lovers out there. With rhubarb handpicked from Yorkshire and a locally sourced honey, this flavour profile is completely unique and sure to brighten anyone’s day!

Enjoy served over ice with a light tonic and a sliver of lemon, or alternatively, check out our “Serves” page for some great cocktail ideas!!

TASTING NOTES

THE NOSE

Sweet and soft rhubarb and subtle hint of warming honey.

THE PALATE

A lingering rhubarb and candied berries hit, followed by mellowing juniper and zingy citrus.

THE FINISH

A silky honey finish to linger pleasantly on the tongue.

YD BRAMBLE BERRY GIN

(40% abv)

A ruby red gin that entices the eye as well as the nose. Packed full of fresh brambleberries, this succulent fruity gin is a taste sensation designed to tickle your taste buds and leave you wanting more. Take a sip, close your eyes and let your imagination transport you to winding country lanes and rolling hills on balmy summer nights.

Enjoy served over ice topped with a light tonic and a scattering of fresh berries. Head over to our “Serves” page for more delicious ideas!

TASTING NOTES

THE NOSE

A creamy nose of summer berries with a hint of citrus.

THE PALATE

Bold blackcurrant with a red berry hit.

THE FINISH

A sour cherry tang with a lingering juniper finish.

YD STRAWBERRY & THAI BASIL GIN

(40% abv)

Strawberries are quintessentially British, bursting with fruity sweetness and red berry flavours, this utterly unique gin is balanced harmoniously with the savoury hit from our handpicked, locally grown Thai Basil. Summer sunshine in a glass!

Enjoy served over ice, paired with some fresh strawberries and mint, topped with a light tonic. Head over to our “Serves” page for more inspiration.

TASTING NOTES

THE NOSE

Fresh picked strawberries with a hint of liquorice and anise.

THE PALATE

Sweet juicy berry lead, soft and delicate balanced with savoury undertones.

THE FINISH

A long and smooth finish, creamy in texture and utterly moreish.

YD CHOCOLATE ORANGE GIN

(40% abv)

Citrus gins have been around for an age, but this truly modern take on a perfect pairing of Chocolate and Orange catapults this gin into an epic new era! Picture Terry’s Chocolate Orange – but in a glass!! Sublime hits of zesty citrus balanced cleverly with velvety chocolate.

Enjoy served over ice on its own or add a light tonic and slice of citrus. Check out our “Serves” page for more great cocktail ideas!!

TASTING NOTES

THE NOSE

Zesty citrus with sweet chocolate heaven.

THE PALATE

Sweet orange balanced with subtle hints of tantalising rich cocoa.

THE FINISH

Lingering decadently on the tongue, smooth dark chocolate notes with a crisp citrus tang.

OUR DISTILLERY

We are proud of the hard work that we have put in to ensure that every one of our processes, from day one, have been created, designed, installed and commissioned by us here at Yorkshire Dales Distillery.

OUR STILLS

Our three hand-built stills incorporate copper plated columns and enable the flavouring of spirits through 100% vapour infusion. It is these features and the properties of our unique and ancient natural mineral water from Swaledale that enable us to produce such notably smooth spirits. The variety in size of our Stills means we can accommodate and meet the requirements of many of our customers as well as the expansion of our own Yorkshire Dales Distillery spirit ranges.

OUR SPIRITS

Inspired by the rugged and challenging beauty of our home, the Yorkshire Dales, our own range of handcrafted London Dry Gins, Vodka and Rum are beautifully smooth and utterly unique. For us, Yorkshire provides an exceptional range of high quality products and we believe in supporting those small businesses around us and showcasing this excellence to the rest of the world. Therefore, many of our botanicals, all of our fruit and our water are sourced from local producers. Our honey is drawn from hives less than 2 miles away from the Distillery from a small family of beekeepers. We even hay smoke (Yorkshire hay) our own black peppercorns and dry our own grapefruit peel.

Having been created and developed by us at the Distillery, all of our spirits are distilled in very small batches before they are hand bottled, labelled and packaged ready for you to enjoy.

OUR TEAM

Established in 2016 by Sarah and Tony Brotherton, Yorkshire Dales Distillery has provided an outlet for their passion for handcrafted quality spirits and to provide sustainable and meaningful training and employment to Service Veterans and Dependants, young people, ex-offenders and the long term unemployed.

The Distillery was born from a longstanding family love for the industry, built on decades of experience and work within the sector. After spending most of Tony’s Army career in North Yorkshire and Sarah’s family coming from nearby Teesside, the Yorkshire Dales made the perfect base to launch their business. Good job really – Yorkshire Dales Distillery in Chelmsford would have been a bit off.

Tony’s cottage farm living grandparents were the original G&T fans, inspiring Tony’s passion for home grown, quality ingredients. When times were hard, Grandad would scrimp on the gin for himself to make sure Grandma always had her share. Two values we carry forward today – supporting and caring for others and ensuring locally grown produce is celebrated accordingly.

There is a rapidly growing team here at Yorkshire Dales Distillery of Veterans and Dependants, young people, ex offenders and the long term unemployed.