Suffolk brewer Adnams has officially opened its new distillery at its Sole Bay Brewery in Southwold — believed to be the first brewery and distillery in England that will undertake the whole process from grain to glass.
Adnams Copper House Distillery will produce a range of handcrafted artisan vodkas, gin and whiskey and has a glazed front, which allows passers-by to see the attractive copper distillery kit.
"We have been brewing great beers in Southwold since 1872, and our business now incorporates five hotels, 70 pubs, and ten Adnams Cellar & Kitchen stores," said chairman Jonathan Adnams.
"Hand crafted spirits are the next exciting step in our journey and we are proud to add distilling to our expertise.
"Small scale distillation produces spirits of a quality and character that far surpass mass-produced products. The addition of a small distillery to breweries is not uncommon in mainland Europe, but I believe we are the first brewery in the UK to brew beer and distill spirits on the same premises."
Waste from the distilling process will be processed in Adnams' anaerobic digestion plant located at Adnams distribution centre at Reydon to be converted into renewable gas, to power the production of beers and spirits.
Gin and Vodka are now on sale in Adnams Cellar & Kitchen stores as well as online via the Adnams website www.adnams.co.uk .
Five products, hand bottled and packaged in an attractive gift box, are available and Whiskey will follow, after a three-year maturation in oak casks:
• Adnams Distilled Gin 40% ABV
• Adnams First Rate Gin 48% ABV
• Adnams Barley Vodka 40% ABV
• Adnams Longshore Premium Vodka 48% ABV
• Adnams North Cove Oak Aged Vodka 50% ABV