THE woman behind a gin makers based in Andover who first started crafting the spirit in her grandad's garden is 'over the moon' to have been highly commended in prestigious awards.
Wessex Spirits, a business that sells handcrafted and bespoke spirits made on site at The Gin Palace, in Winchester Street, has been named as highly commended in the local food and drinks category as part of the Countryside Alliance Awards.
The awards – now in their 17th year – recognise rural businesses across five categories, including Best Local Food, Best Butcher, Best Pub, Best Rural Enterprise’, and Best Village Shop/ Post Office.
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Thousands of nominations from around the country were whittled down via a public vote, with the final few advancing to the finals.
The winner of each category will go on to represent the South East in the national champions reception at the House of Lords in June, competing against other finalists from around England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Wessex Spirits started life as Test Valley Gin back in February 2017 when owner and gin maker Kate Griffin started out making it in her grandad’s garden.
The 45-year-old, who lives in Andover, left the garden just a year later and moved into a premises in Andover in January 2018 where she started making bespoke gin.
In September 2021 a new chapter started when it opened as Wessex Spirits and moved to its current and forever home in the 17th Century coaching inn that used to be The Lamb Inn.
Kate said: "We are just really excited, it's so nice to have any recognition because we work really hard because we are a two-woman show. I make all the gin and then Vikki works with me, she is my bar manger and business development manager. It is just the two of us, we do have a team of gin pixies as well as helping us behind the bar.
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"It is really lovely and the fact that it was voted for by local people is really lovely. We don't know who nominated us and we are just super grateful to everyone that voted for us."
Working alongside Kate at The Gin Palace is Vikki Cosgrove, 36, who first joined as a bar staff member before becoming the bar and business development manager.
Kate added: "I started making gin seven years ago at my grandad's house in his back garden and then I moved to my own premises in Andover about a year later. I then moved to the current location where we now have the bar and an events space. We also have a cocktail bar and do gin tasting and I make everything on site.
"I still make everything with all natural ingredients. We don't use any nasties, no colourings, no flavourings, no syrups, nothing like that, all completely natural and I make it all here."
When asked how she got into gin making, she added: "I used to be a teacher so I drank a lot of gin and then I had kids so I drank even more gin. The leap to making it wasn't too huge."
The businesses shares the building with the Andover Tap so its gin will be available at the Gin and Beer Festival running from Thursday, May 23 to Sunday, May 26.
For more information, visit wessexspirits.co.uk.
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