English Spirit to open distillery

UK-based producer English Spirit will open its new ‘state-of-the-art’ distillery and visitor centre in Cornwall this summer.

In May 2019, English Spirit received planning approval to build a visitor centre on its site at Treguddick Manor, Launceston. The site, which will include a restaurant and bar, was due to open last year.

Over the past three years, the English Spirit team has worked on converting a derelict agricultural building into an architecturally designed space to house the producer’s equipment.

Master distiller and founder Dr John Walters said: “We wanted to open another site to further our place in England’s high-quality food and drink industry and to show off what we do best, via educational tours, tastings and even cooking with spirits. And continue our theme of English heritage.”

The site will contain a custom 2,500-litre copper still, designed by Walters. The still’s design was based on the original 200-litre alembic stills he engineered for English Spirit’s distillery.

The new distillery is expected to produce 50,000 bottles by the end of this year.

When the site opens, members of the public will be able to learn about the production process and visit the domes where botanicals are grown.

James Lawrence, general manager at Treguddick, added: “We’re extremely excited to open up this one-of-a-kind distillery and visitor experience, which will combine our distilling expertise with produce from one of the UK’s top food and drink producing regions to produce truly spectacular results.”

English Spirit will open its booking system for tours and tastings from mid-May.

In February 2019, English Spirit refreshed the packaging for its portfolio, which includes St Piran’s Rum, Apple Brandy and English Sambuca.

Last year, English Spirit and Essex farmer Pete Thompson created what they claim is the “UK’s first homegrown baijiu”.

English Spirit also partnered with British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes to create a rum.