Oyster farmer shows spirit with saucy new venture... and battles for TV prize
People used to walk past the raw oysters on the market stall belonging to Mairi Hawkes and her husband.
“I wondered if people would try them if we put some whisky or gin on them, so that’s what we did,” said Mairi.
“I started putting a wee teaspoon of gin, whisky or tequila on the oysters and, the next thing we knew, people wanted to try them. So I decided to make sauces.”
And, so, Slainte Sauces was born... but with a sweet little twist.
Mairi, who, with husband Geoff, inherited her dad’s oyster farm on the tiny Isle of Lismore, said. “i started experimenting with cocktail sauces using the alcohol, still making savoury sauces for the oysters, but then the dessert sauces started taking over.
“I got the ideas from bar and cocktail menus, like strawberry daiquiri, rum and salted caramel, chocolate amaretto, chocolate espresso martini.”
As Mairi developed recipes from a closed island cafe during Covid lockdown, interest in the boozy dessert sauces grew. Once restrictions allowed, she bought a unit in Oban to work from and started attending markets across the country. There are now 10 flavours of Slainte Sauces, all handmade by the islander alone – but often labelled by her obliging husband.
Then, last year, Mairi’s sister-in-law suggested applying to appear on Channel 4 series Aldi’s Next Big Thing. Despite her initial fear, Mairi took the leap.
“I’ll give anything a go. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work. What’s the worst that could happen?” Mairi said.
“I applied and within a week the production team called me. The next thing I knew, we left the island, drove down to Birmingham on no sleep, and I went right in to pitch.”
Aldi’s Next Big Thing gives food and drink suppliers the chance to compete to be listed in more than 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide. Each episode of the six-part series is themed, with Slainte Sauces fitting perfectly into the Party line-up.
“It’s so out of my comfort zone. I can chat endlessly, but not with maybe 11 huge cameras on you,” said Mairi. “It was a delight, though. Everyone was so lovely. We were all quaking in our boots, but the crew was amazing the whole time, reassuring us.”
On Tuesday evening, televisions across Lismore will be tuned into Channel 4, the locals ready to cheer Mairi on. Many of them have known her family through generations on the island.
“Everyone has been asking me about it,” said Mairi. “The support has been overwhelming, a complete outpouring of love.”
But will Mairi be watching on her TV?
“I’ll be watching with my husband and one of my best friends for moral support. And I’ll be on Facetime with my family on the mainland,” said Mairi.
“I am looking forward to it but am nervous at the same time. I love seeing the sauces on the telly, but I am not sure about myself. I think I’ll have the blindfold on and be under the duvet.
“But I am so glad I took that leap, regardless of what happens.”