Forest Gin signs Virgin Trains first class deal

Virgin Trains has signed a deal to serve Forest Gin and vodka and whisky from The Lakes Distillery to its first class passengers.

Forest Gin first launched in early 2015 and is made in small batches using botanicals foraged from nearby Macclesfield Forest in the UK, as well as locations within the Cheshire Peak District area.

The final product is then combined with water from forest springs to deliver a “fresh, herbaceous London Dry gin”.

The Lakes Distillery released the first British blended whisky, called The One, in the UK in 2013, and distilling for The Lakes Malt and The Lakes Vodka began in September 2014.

“Virgin Trains has a reputation for providing its customers with only premium products so it is a testament to the quality of our spirit that we are being offered first class customers,” said Paul Currie, founder and managing director of The Lakes Distillery.

“We have invested £7m into our distillery to ensure we produce the highest quality spirits in our handmade copper stills and have enjoyed an outstanding first year in business attracting over 20,000 visitors to our site in Cumbria.

“We look to working with Virgin Trains into the future.”

The range of spirits is available in Virgin Trains’ First Class lounge in Euston, London, now.

“Here at Virgin Trains, we’re committed to offering our customers premium products while also supporting local businesses along our route,” commented Amanda Smit, head of catering at Virgin Trains. “We’re delighted that we’re able to do both with these superb spirits.

“It’s great to introduce these products into our First Class portfolio.”