Woman converts horse cart into gin bar

Holly Bower, founder of Scout & Sage Spirits, has created a mobile gin bar out of an old horse trailer, with plans to take it to events across south west England

Bower has set up a vintage travelling gin bar – named ‘Margot’ –  which will serve G&T’s using a selection of premium gins, as well as its own small-batch gin, all from a converted horse cart.

Bath-based business Scout & Sage Spirits seeks to give distilleries a list of botanicals to create “unique, handcrafted and beautiful gin”.

Bower told The Bath Chronicle: “The name says it all, as we scout around the country looking out for master distillers to work with and they impart their sage-like wisdom.

“If a certain gin proves popular we’ll do another batch. There might be a wait – but hopefully it’s worth waiting for.”

Bower has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years, with a long-term goal to run her own distillery one day.

She added: “This isn’t something new; there are quite a few gin producers out there that don’t have their own distillery – as financially, it’s a huge commitment.

“Often they approach a large one that offer a private label service and can produce large batches. I think there are some great gins out there that are produced in this way.

“It’s still led by much, much bigger operations, but the gin world has certainly taken note of the eruption of small-batch, premium gin producers and their growing market.”

Bower hopes to bring her travelling gin bar to Bath Christmas Market, as well as independent and Christmas markets in Frome and Hungerford.