Global prize win for family of gin makers
A FAMILY is taking ingredients from Macclesfield Forest to the world stage with their award-winning gin.
Karl and Lindsay Bond make Forest Gin from their premises in Langley with the help of daughter Hattie, who picks ingredients from nearby Macclesfield Forest to provide its unique taste.
Now they have won two double gold awards in the international San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2016, which celebrates the best spirits in the business.
Karl said: “We are humbled and thrilled to announce that Forest Gin has been awarded two separate double-gold medals in one of the most respected and influential spirits competitions in the world.
“The medals received were in the blind taste test and in the packaging awards, when Forest Gin received top marks from all the judges.”
Forest Gin is distilled in small batches of 80 bottles using ingredients from the forest and since January 2015 the family have supplied high-end establishments including Harvey Nichols, Virgin Trains 1st Class and several Michelin starred restaurants.
They have also enjoyed success elsewhere, with a silver medal in the ‘ultra premium’ category at The Global Gin Masters, which is part of the Global Spirits Masters competition held in London.
Anthony Dias Blue, director of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, said: “What makes us most proud of this is the fact that Forest Gin is produced by just three people in Cheshire, husband and wife team, Karl and Lindsay Bond – assisted by their daughter Harriet.
“The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the most influential in the industry and winning a medal here is very meaningful.
“We have the industry’s most respected experts serving as judges and every entry is blind-tasted under highly focused conditions.
“There is no better way to discern quality and identify trends.”
The sixth San Francisco World Spirits Competition featured more than 1,850 entries – the largest number to date.
It was founded as a way to award exceptional products in the spirits industry.
Forest gin comes in a unique English Porcelain bottle produced in Stoke-on-Trent by Wade Ceramics. ●● Forest Gin family Karl and Lindsay Bond with daughter Hattie in Macclesfield Forest