Durham’s first distillery plans vodka release

Durham’s first distillery since the Tudor era – recently opened by a former NHS executive – is readying for expansion, revealing plans to release a vodka to follow its “successful” gin.

The Durham Distillery is readying to launch a new vodka to join its “successful” gin

Having released the first bottles of Durham Gin in April this year, the Durham Distillery, owned by former National Health Service (NHS) chief Jon Chadwick, is seeking to expand production after receiving a funding boost.

As reported in The Journal, the North East distillery now intends to launch a new vodka within the next few weeks after selling between 700 and 900 bottles of gin each month.

The products have been created by master distiller Jessica Tomlinson, who at the age of 26 is the youngest female distiller in the UK.

Bottled at 40% abv, Durham Gin is produced in a 400-litre handmade copper gin still called Lily, that was specially commissioned and imported from Spain, and is able to produce small batches of just 200 bottles at a time.

Chadwick said of his career change that he aimed to get people away from binge drinking and cheap alcohol, claiming that the brand’s mantra is “drink less, drink better”.

The Durham Distillery has been enabled to expand its range of spirits with funding from the North East Business Support Fund (NEBSF).