Production is now underway at Cornwall's newest visitor attraction and first “plough to bottle” gin and vodka distillery, Colwith Farm Distillery, with tours available from the beginning of July.

Whereas most craft distilleries buy in the base spirit Colwith is the first gin and vodka distillery in Cornwall – and one of only a handful in the UK – to bring the whole process under one roof. Located at Lanlivery near Fowey, the new state-of-the-art facility includes the main production area, where King Edward potatoes grown on the family farm are mashed, fermented and distilled and a bar so visitors can sample the spirits.

Construction began on the distillery in 2017, thanks to a SELAG (South and East Cornwall Local Action Group) grant. First-off the production line has been Fowey River Gin, created by blending a Colwith vodka base with triple distilled cider from nearby Haye Farm before further distillation with botanicals. When fully operational, the distillery will also produce homegrown Stafford's Gin and Aval Dor Vodka from scratch.

Aval Dor, simply Cornish for potato, was fifth-generation farmer Steve Dustow's first foray into diversifying the family business, winning a Taste of the West award in 2016. Stafford's Gin takes the vodka as its base spirit with added botanicals foraged on the farm. 

“When we first started producing our gin and vodka we were sending the ingredients away to Cambridgeshire to be distilled. My vision was to be able to transform our own crops into premium spirits on a single site right here. It's an incredible feeling to see that now come to fruition,” says Steve.

On arrival visitors are greeted by a series of story boards, telling the history of the family and the farm. Provenance is very important to the whole experience. Tours of the new distillery are bookable on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 4 July and cost from £15 per adult. Bespoke tours and events are available on request. For more information visit www.colwithfarmdistillery.co.uk

Stay at the Talland Bay Hotel, a coastal retreat boasting 80-plus gins behind the bar. Their new Cornish Gin Odyssey package costs from £340 per person (July-September) including two nights in a classic room, breakfast each day, three-course dinner in the hotel's 2AA Rosette fine-dining Terrace restaurant both nights, a complimentary gin and tonic on the first night featuring the 'gin of the day' and a tour and tasting at Colwith Farm Distillery.

-ENDS-

For further information, high res images and to arrange an interview please contact Samantha Kirton at Dart PR, sam@dartpr.co.uk, 0778 616 6556.

Notes to editor:

About Colwith Farm Distillery

Colwith Farm is a 200-acre family owned farm located between Lostwithiel and Fowey in Cornwall, purchased by Stafford Dustow in 1904. Today the business is managed by Grandfather, Father and Son - Clive, Mike and Chris Dustow.

In 2014 Stafford's great, great grandson Steve (Mike's son) began developing Cornwall's first potato vodka – Aval Dor – using Colwith Farm King Edward potatoes.  In 2015 he started producing Stafford's Gin derived from this potato vodka along with botanicals foraged on the farm. This was followed by Fowey River Gin in 2016, made in collaboration with Haye Farm.

Aval Dor

This premium vodka spirit is created using the farm's finest King Edward potatoes; distilled in a tiny copper batch still then blended with mineral water from an aquifer deep beneath the farm. (The King Edward potato is extremely high in starch and with its flowery complexion it is perfect for the transformation into a premium spirit.)

Stafford's Gin

Named after Stafford Matthew Dustow, his gin is derived from Cornish potato vodka, Aval Dor. (Whereas most gin distillers buy in their spirit, the Colwith boys prefer to make their own.)

Stafford's Gin is infused with delicate selection of botanicals foraged on the farm including lemon balm, rosemary and bay in addition to juniper, coriander, lime zest, almond and macadamia sourced from further afield. Stafford's Gin has a distinctive, citrusy taste.

Fowey River Gin

Fowey River Gin is a unique collaboration between Cornwall's oldest cider maker Haye Farm and Colwith Farm, situated on either side of the River Fowey. This gin is produced from an English sugar beet vodka base - small batch, craft, clean and smooth vodka. The vodka is then blended with triple distilled Haye Farm cider distillate which provides the apple undertones and uniqueness of this gin. It's then distilled again with botanicals including hazelnut, an array of citrus zest, macadamia and almond.