Spirits concocted in the Northumberland hills are proving to be just the tonic for drinkers across the world, having seen soaring export sales.
Six years after launching in Morpeth, Hepple Spirits’ gins are being championed by bartenders in the most exclusive bars in the world, with many mixologists journeying to the Hepple Estate to see its three-stage distilling process for themselves.
The firm currently exports 40% of its products overseas, but hopes to grow that volume by 100% in the next three years after entering into new markets.
Hepple Spirits - founded by foraging chef Valentine Warner, bartender Nick Strangeway and Hepple Estate owner Walter Riddell - recently began exporting to India, following success in the US, French, German and Chinese markets amongst others.
Read more: From boardroom notes to music notes - former Quorn CEO releases first album
The company, which has pioneered a three-stage distillery process created and overseen by master distiller Chris Garden, has been working with the Department of International Trade to gain knowledge and contacts in Asian and Middle Eastern markets, attending a Meet the Buyer event for India, which introduced Hepple to a number of international buyers.
Mr Garden, who previously worked with the Sipsmith distillery in London before moving North, said: “Conventional distillation can destroy some flavours due to the high temperatures required in the process.
“We wanted to go beyond conventional distillation and harness the benefits of vacuum distillation, allowing us to distil gin at lower temperatures and maintain the true flavour of the juniper and other botanicals we use in the process.
“When I left Sipsmith, I’d vowed never to make another gin, but once I’d travelled to Hepple and met with Valentine Warner and Nick Strangeway, who has trained nine of the 10 best bartenders in the world, I was completely sold on the idea of creating this gin that represents a celebration of the juniper and harnesses the unique flavours of nature.
“DIT has been helpful to us in so many ways. It gave us the confidence that we were not going to waste time and money jumping into new markets, assisted us with paperwork and documentation and also made really important introductions that led to successful relationships.
“We have real faith in our gin and the best bartenders in the world love it. It is poured in bars such as the Dead Rabbit in New York, which has been voted the world’s best, and that filters down to other bars and also raises its popularity with individuals purchasing it.”
In the past the team has welcomed Norwegian bar owner Monica Berg, crowned ‘most influential industry figure’ by Drinks International, to the Hepple Estate, where she had a tour of the juniper bushes and enjoyed a gin and tonic with a view of the rolling Northumberland hills.
Mr Garden added: “I’m so proud that our gin is served all over the world, and with every sip I hope – whether that’s the English wheat, or the flora and fauna around Hepple.”
Victoria Gemmill, DIT Northern Powerhouse regional team and head of North East Region, said: “Hepple Spirits has turned distilling gin into an art form at its Northumberland base. It is a fantastic North East success story and a business that has literally captured the very essence of our region.
“I’m delighted with their initial success in export markets and very much look forward to continuing to support the team as it explores other foreign markets.”
