At The Shropshire Distillery, we believe in the art of distillation - a time-honoured craft that blends science, skill, passion, and attention to detail. We refer to distillation as a form of Alchemy where we are we are turning something ordinary into something extraordinary.
Every drop of our premium spirits is handcrafted with care, using only the finest sourced ingredients. We take pride in perfecting each step of the process, from carefully selecting botanicals to the delicate balancing of flavours during distillation. Whether it’s our award-winning gins or bespoke liqueurs, each spirit we create reflects the true Spirit of Shropshire and our commitment to quality, transparency and honesty.
A Journey Through Distillation
Distillation is more than just a scientific process; it’s an age-old craft that transforms raw ingredients into the rich, complex spirits we enjoy today. At its simplest, distillation involves heating a liquid to turn it into vapour, (a bit like when a kettle boils!) then cooling that vapour to collect the liquid again. While that may sound straightforward, the true magic lies in the subtle art of perfecting every stage—from selecting botanicals to the careful ‘cutting’ process.
In the UK, distillation has deep roots, particularly in gin production. The industry saw a dramatic rise during the 18th century, with the Gin Craze in London igniting a passion for spirits that continues to shape the landscape of British distilling today. However, a historic excise law from 1823 made it nearly impossible for small-scale distillers to obtain a licence for stills under 1,800 litres. Sipsmith, founded in 2009, challenged this regulation and, after a two-year legal battle, succeeded in obtaining a licence for their 300-litre still. This pivotal moment paved the way for numerous craft distilleries, including us, across the UK, fostering a resurgence in small-batch gin production.
At The Shropshire Distillery, we honour this tradition while adding our unique touch, authenticity and alchemy.
Selecting Ingredients: We handpick the finest world botanicals and ingredients with reason and purpose, with each spirit having its own unique recipe.
Distillation: Here’s where the real alchemy comes in. We use traditional copper stills - known for their superior heat conductivity and natural ability to remove impurities - to distill our spirit. The stills play a significant role in shaping the spirit’s character. 'Jean' and 'Anne our much loved 50 litre copper pot stills are loaded with neutral grain spirit and only enough botanicals to make one distillation - a technique known as ‘one shot’ distilling - never making a gin concentrate or adding spirit after distillation, the stills are then sealed and heated up ready for the distillation to begin.
Our copper stills play a vital role in refining the spirit. Copper reacts with sulfur compounds, eliminating impurities and enhancing the flavour. The distillation process involves heating the neutral grain spirit and botanicals, capturing the vapours and esters, and cooling it to create a purified liquid. This method not only concentrates the alcohol but also captures the delicate aromas of our botanicals.
Making the ‘Cut’:We craft our spirits from head to tail, but only the pure hearts go into every bottle.
The "heads" and "tails" refer to the early and final portions of the distillation, which contain unwanted compounds.
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Heads: The first part of the distillation, which contains lighter, volatile methanol compounds, including some alcohols and esters that can impart harsh or undesirable flavours.
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Tails: The final phase of the distillation, contains heavier alcohols and other compounds that are often bitter or overly strong. A bit like a stewed tea bag!
By carefully separating the heads and tails, we ensure that only the "heart" of the distillation, which is the cleanest and most flavorful part, is used in the final product. This results in a smoother, more refined spirit.
Blending: We use crystal-clear, purified water, carefully extracted through our advanced Reverse Osmosis system, ensuring only the purest water makes it into our spirits. This pristine water is carefully blended with the hearts of our distillation to achieve the perfect alcohol strength for bottling. Our spirits are gently blended over several days, a patient process that prevents thermal reactions and maintains the distillate’s flawless balance. This thoughtful approach also allows delicate ester notes the time they need to fully develop, bringing out their rich and nuanced flavor profiles
Bottling: We use a vacuum bottling machine with an added filter to ensure each spirit is perfectly bottled. Each bottle is manually placed into the filling machine and carefully corked by hand, allowing us to maintain a personal touch and attention to detail. Want to see how it's done? Watch our bottling in action on TikTok here.
Labelling: Each bottle is individually hand-labelled with love and care, adding a personal touch to every spirit we create. A true nod to being handcrafted.
A Nod to Tradition and Innovation
Our small-batch approach allows us to experiment with new flavours and processes, keeping our offerings fresh and exciting. This balance between tradition and modernity is what allows us to continually evolve and create premium spirits.
Why Handcrafted Matters
Handcrafted spirits are all about attention to detail. By managing the entire process ourselves, we can guarantee the quality of our products. It’s this dedication that has earned us recognition in the industry and loyalty from our customers. With numerous awards to our name - we think this speak volumes.
The Distinctive Flavours of Our Premium Spirits
Our flagship product, Dry Gin, exemplifies our dedication to quality. It features a balanced blend of juniper, citrus, and subtle rose, making it a versatile choice for various cocktails. Additionally, our Spring Vodka showcases the purity and smoothness achieved through our meticulous distillation process and using a Wenlock Spring to blend to bottling strength..
Why Choose Handcrafted Spirits?
Choosing handcrafted spirits from The Shropshire Distillery means embracing a legacy of quality. Unlike mass-produced options, which are often produced using a multi shot/concentrated method, our small-batch ‘one-shot’ approach ensures that every bottle is crafted with care and precision. The result is a superior taste experience, evident in every sip.
Visit Us
We invite you to visit our distillery to witness the alchemy behind our spirits firsthand. For more information, explore our offerings and experiences at The Shropshire Distillery and discover the essence of premium, handcrafted spirits and the distillery experiences we offer, embracing our ethos of transparency and honesty.
Explore More
Want to dive deeper into the world of distillation? Check out Difford's Guide for more insights into the process and history of spirit-making, or why not join us to make your very own Spirit at one of our Gin School experiences. And when you’re ready to taste the difference, visit us at The Shropshire Distillery to experience our handcrafted spirits firsthand.
Whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or just starting your journey into premium spirits, join us on our journey of alchemy to share our passion and craftsmanship with you.
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