Gin Produced on Fife Farm Wins Waitrose Deal

A family-run farm in Fife has won a contract to supply a supermarket not with eggs, fruit, vegetables or meat but with gin.

Edinburgh Gin, which is produced in small batches by a family-run company, has won a contract to supply Waitrose’s Scottish stores.

Distilled by the Spencerfield Spirit Company using the finest Scottish botanicals, the fine gin is already proving a hit with Waitrose customers.

A tasting held in Waitrose’s store in Morningside, Edinburgh last weekend saw customers snapping up bottles of  the gin.

Set up by the former marketing director of Glenmorangie, Alex Nicol and his wife, Jane, Spencerfield Spirit Co had already made a name for itself with two  whiskies – Sheep Dip, a malt whisky and Pig’s Nose, a blended whisky.

Edinburgh Gin was first introduced in June 2010 when the couple set out to produce a Scottish gin that was "literally world-class".

The company’s first gin has been so well received that a new gin – raspberry infusion made with Perthshire raspberries – has been introduced.

The Spencerfield Farm estate has a long and proud heritage of distilling fine spirits. It was originally farmed by James Anderson in the 1700s, who supplied spirit to London which was redistilled into gin.

However, legislation was passed disallowing the importation of spirits and this destroyed his business. Anderson then set sail for a new life in Virginia where he worked for George Washington, helped to build Mount Vernon distillery and designed a pot still (now a national monument) similar to those used back on the farm in Scotland.

All aspects of the business are managed by the couple who work with a small team including master blender Richard Paterson, the only third-generation whisky blender working today.

Alex and Jane won the contract to supply Waitrose following a chance meeting with Billy Howie, retail manager at Waitrose Morningside, at The Taste of Edinburgh festival in July. He tasted the Edinburgh Gin, loved it and recommended it to the Waitrose Local and Regional sourcing team.

Herchelle Perez-Terrado, Waitrose spirits buyer, said: "We’re always on the look-out for food and drink that’s produced by people who are clearly devoted to their craft, determined to use the finest local ingredients and driven to make something that’s unique.

"Alex and Jane’s company typifies this approach and we’re delighted to be working with them."

The company already sells around the world and through delicatessens and farm shops in the UK, as well as direct to aficionados through the online shop. Waitrose is the only supermarket it supplies.

Alex explained: "We’ve always been proud of producing small batches of spirits that are appreciated by aficionados.

"I’ve worked for many years in the industry and I don’t want to compromise quality for quantity but Waitrose allows us to supply a small number of stores yet reach a wider audience of customers who we know are interested in good food – and presumably great drinks to complement it if our tastings last weekend are anything to judge by."

Edinburgh Gin is now available in all four Waitrose Scottish stores, priced £25 for 700ml.

More information:

Interested in finding out how you might be able to supply Waitrose?

Spencerfield Spirit Company.

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