Gin makers take their tipple to the Houses of Parliament
MACCLESFIELD’S most famous gin makers took their tipple to the Houses of Parliament as part of a special event to promote Cheshire producers.
The event, organised by Antoinette Sandbach, who is MP for Eddisbury in Cheshire, saw MPs from across the county join forces to put Cheshire’s food and drink industry on the map.
Among the producers representing the county was Karl Bond from Langley, who runs Forest Gin with wife Lindsay, and gave out samples of gin made from botanicals foraged from Macclesfield Forest.
Karl said: “We were invited by David Rutley to represent his constituency.
“It was a fantastic experience and privilege to serve our gin in the Houses of Parliament.
“We met the Chancellor George Osborne - he liked the gin - and had lots of MPs coming and having a taste throughout the day.”
Karl was also treated to a tour of Parliament during this visit.
Macclesfield MP David Rutley, who co-sponsored the event, said: “I am delighted to have been able to support Cheshire Food Day, and celebrate the great produce sourced from across our county. As well as tasting fantastic, it is important to remember that food and drink are an important contributor to our local economy. That’s why I was really pleased to be able to welcome Forest Gin from Macclesfield to Parliament.
“Our local produce has a lot going for it, and I would urge people to try and buy locally wherever possible, and help support our local businesses.”
Antoinette Sandbach MP said: “I am a passionate believer in supporting our local Cheshire businesses so the opportunity to create a showcase at Westminster for our many wonderful food and drink producers was something myself and the other Cheshire MP’s really wanted to support.
“I was very happy to organise the event and delighted that it was so well attended, we were able to show the country’s politicians and some key business decision makers the quality of the Cheshire offer.”
Forest Gin is produced using mainly organic ingredients which are distilled with a blend of botanicals from Macclesfield Forest.
Karl and Lindsay distil, bottle and promote the gin, while their daughter Hattie is in charge of foraging for berries and botanicals.
Since setting up the business from their home 18 months ago, Karl and Lyndsey are now on the hunt to find the perfect venue for their business, which they are hoping to expand so that they can increase production and open to members of the public.
Karl said: “We are still looking for the perfect premises. What we really need is an old barn or something that we could rent or buy, but it needs to be within a few miles of the forest.
“The dream is to open a distillery where we can invite people to come along and see what we do.”
If you are able to help Karl email sales@ forestgin.com.