Re:purpose crafts whisky-inspired spirit from surplus bread
The founders of England’s Shropshire Distillery have launched Re:purpose, a spirits brand that turns surplus ingredients into spirits.
Co-founded by Emma and Gareth Glynn, Re:purpose has unveiled its debut collection of small batch spirits that have been crafted with surplus ingredients that ‘deserve a second chance’.
Said to be born from a passion for craft, creativity, and conscious production and a frustration with waste, Re:purpose exists to prove that the ingredients the world discards still have extraordinary potential.
Through careful small-batch distillation, the duo hopes to take overlooked ingredients and give them ‘new life’ by transforming them into spirits ‘of genuine quality’ that carry ‘both flavour and meaning in every bottle’.
The pair noted that they kept seeing ‘perfectly usable produce’, including bread that was too hard to eat but still usable, citrus that didn’t make the cut, and raspberries with nowhere to go, and asked the same question: why is this being thrown away when it still has so much to give?
“We started with a question and ended up with something we love,” explained Gareth. “There’s a bigger story behind every bottle, one about where our food comes from, what gets wasted, and what’s possible when you refuse to accept that. Our aim is to be part of the solution. To take what the system overlooks and turn it into something people genuinely want to pour. That’s the alchemy. That’s the purpose.”
The brand is launching with three spirits crafted from ingredients that were going to waste: a whisky-inspired bread spirit, a citrus vodka made from surplus lemons and limes, and a raspberry vodka crafted from surplus raspberries.
According to Re:purpose, surplus rustic bread is one of the most wasted food products on the planet, while also being ‘a remarkable base’ for distillation.
The brand’s bread spirit delivers creamy cereal warmth, toasted depth, and a bold, lingering finish.
While the 40% ABV spirit has been inspired by whisky, the brand notes this is not an imitation of it, but rather something entirely its own that is described as ‘familiar enough to feel comforting, but distinct enough to make you sit up and take notice’.
The citrus vodka, meanwhile, is described as bright, clean, and zesty, delivering sharp freshness on the nose and a smooth, considered finish, while the raspberry vodka is berry-forward and smooth, with a natural sweetness and vibrancy.
Both are bottled at 37.5% ABV.
The bottle labels are made from apple waste, and an undisclosed percentage of profits from each bottle sold supports food waste initiatives, contributing to a circular economy that values ingredients from the field to the final pour.
The spirits are available for purchase from www.repurposedrinks.com, with the vodkas priced at £34 (US$46) and the bread spirit at £45 (US$60).
Other brands making use of surplus ingredients to craft their spirits include Penrhos, which last year teamed up with wonky vegetable subscription brand Oddbox to create pear and chilli gin, and Sapling Spirits, which launched its wonky fruit range in 2023.
We have previously published a feature that took a deep dive into the rise of discarded spirits.
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