Local gin distillery Forest Gin was the venue for our most recent networking event, when owner Karl Bond welcomed our members to his charming 17th century stone barn on the edge of Macclesfield Forest.
With a growing following not just in the UK, but as far away as Japan and China, Karl and his wife Lindsey have made a huge success of producing the best gin they can from the finest locally sourced ingredients wherever possible … including water from their own ancient spring! And it doesn’t stop there, the highly covetable ceramic stone bottle is produced in Staffordshire by Wade Ceramics with the design commissioned by the respected Papercut artist Suzy Taylor and featuring the famous forest weasel.
Steph (multi-tasking Girl Friday at the distillery) gave a fascinating insight into the history of gin, from the 18th century when gin got its’ reputation as “mother’s ruin” to the cult product it is today, and Karl took us through the family’s journey to getting Forest Gin onto the world stage and his exciting plans for the future … a fantastic local business success.
It was a lovely late Spring evening so we sampled tasters of both the original Forest Gin and Earl Grey Forest Gin in the bar, and then outside in the courtyard we enjoyed fabulous freshly cooked paella from Spanish Caravan who we discovered at the Treacle Market.
Certainly networking with a difference!
