Karl and Kathy were serious gin enthusiasts prior to launching their much-loved gin, but had no experience within the distilling industry. Their love for the spirit inspired them to create a Facebook page entitled ‘Gin and Tonic Friday’. The page brought like-minded gin lovers together and the page quickly attracted a whopping 10,000 followers.

Karl and Kathy were soon being asked to review various gins from across the county. It was then that they noticed a gap in the market and decided it was time that Yorkshire had a great gin of its very own. Masons Original Yorkshire gin was initially produced using an external distillery but it’s instant popularity led Karl and Kathy to establish the very first gin distillery in Yorkshire, just seven months later.

Distilled in two copper alembic stills, affectionately known as ‘Steve’ and ‘Leftie’, their gin is probably one of the most recognisable Yorkshire gin brands to be found on the supermarket shelves. In addition to their Masons Original Yorkshire Gin, they have launched some deliciously unusual varieties which have taken the Yorkshire gin community by storm. Lavender edition and Tea Edition were both introduced in 2015, and more recently, their Peppered Pear Special Edition was launched at Harrogate Christmas Market 2017.

The inspirational couple are as passionate about local produce as they are about gin, so the lavender for their Lavender Edition is sourced Yorkshire’s very own lavender farm and, of course, the tea in their Tea Edition is the finest in the region.

The Masons Yorkshire Gin Range

The Original

42% ABV. Available on Amazon £35.03. Buy now.

“Soft juniper, lime and orange rind flavours lead to a peppery finish with a subtle fennel fragrance on the nose, whilst on the palate there’s a ripe & sweet aniseed start, with bold citrus flavours, plenty of cardamom & green apple blending into a warm, mouth-watering finish.”

Lavender Edition

42% ABV. Available on Amazon £36.62. Buy now.

“Dry lavender notes on the nose and a slight fennel aroma create a soft & subtle experience. There’s a soft texture once upon the palate, with a fresh candied lavender sweet flavour and anise creeping in on the dry finish.”

Tea Edition

42% ABV. Available on Amazon £34.00. Buy now.

“Delicate and fresh upon the palate, with a citrus sharpness hitting the senses and fresh aromas that swirl around. Plenty of Yorkshire Tea flavour develops on the palate, as well as fresh aniseed, cardamom & pepper notes before the tea returns for the long finish.”

Their gin range consists of a growing number of signature blends, including The Original, Pink Particular, Clearly Sloe and Navy Strength. 

You would be forgiven for believing that Whittaker’s gin was a long established company, due to their nostalgic yet creative branding, which nods to the traditional. However, in the short time that they have been trading, they have certainly made a name for themselves, winning an array of awards including ADI Best Internation Gin 2018 and Double Gold Medal for their Original. Their Pink Particular gin, which is a staff favourite won “Best Contemporary European Gin at the 2016 Craft Distilling Expo in London and those are just a few of the many accolades that they have picked up.

Toby discovered his passion for Gin when taking a distilling course at Heriot Watt, which he found was akin with his love of Chemistry, which he studied at University many years ago.

Throughout their working lives, previous to becoming one of the most watched gin producers in the region, the Whittaker’s both worked in property and it wasn’t until their daughters were set to leave home that they decided to persue their shared passion.

Their first creations were a far cry from their no renowned tipples, where Toby began his mission, experimenting with supermarket vodka before adding local ingredients of all varieties in the desire to reach gin perfection. In an article with Gin Foundry, Jane described ““The kitchen in the house was taken over frequently by Toby in his quest for gin perfection, using our garden hose for cooling out of the kitchen window, while I ran around sealing all of the joins on our leaking still so we didn’t contaminate the contents as it was boiling.”

We’re delighted to say that their operation grew from the kitchen of their home into the operation which we see today!

The Whittaker’s Gin Range

Whittaker’s Gin | The Original

42% ABV, Available from Amazon. £33.19. Buy now.

A traditional smooth gin with a base of Juniper, Coriander and Angelica Root, including botanical’s of Hawthorn Berries, Bilberries, Bog Myrtle and Garden Thyme with a hint of Lemon Citrus.

Best Served With: Regular Tonic and garnished with Juniper berries and a sprig of woody garden Thyme. 

Whittaker’s Gin | Pink Particular

42% ABV, Available From Amazon, £33.29 Buy Now

An award-winning contemporary gin with signature botanical’s of Pink Peppercorns, Pink Hibiscus and Cardamom with a hint of Lemon Citrus.

Best Served With: Regular Tonic with a garnish of pink peppercorns or a pink hibiscus flower.

Whittaker’s Gin | Navy Strength Gin

57% ABV, Available From Amazon, £39.65 Buy Now

A base of Juniper, Coriander and Angelica Root with signature botanical’s of Hawthorn Berries, Bilberries, Bog Myrtle and Garden Thyme with a hint of Lemon Citrus. Made for cocktails.

Best Served With: Created for cocktails but can be drunk with regular tonic with a garnish of Juniper berries and a sprig of woody garden Thyme. (Not for the faint hearted!)

Whittaker’s Gin | Clearly Sloe Gin

42% ABV, Available from Amazon, £33.50 Buy Now

A contemporary gin of Sloes soaked in Original Whittaker’s Gin for no less than 6 months then laced with Liquorice for 24 hours before distillation.

Best Served With: Ideally a double dutch cranberry tonic but a regular tonic is also appropriate – garnish with crushed Cranberries.

The distillery, which has become well known for their delicious, alcoholic blends, was created by Dr Abbie Neilson who was once a scientist, along with Chris Jaume, a chartered architect.

The project began when co-founders Chris and Abbie left their day jobs to travel and enjoy life to its fullest.

Speaking in an interview with The Guardian, Jaume said: “We both felt there must be more to life than this, so we decided to quit our jobs and spend the money we’d been saving to buy our first house on two one-way tickets to Australia.”

Whilst on their travels, they became enchanted with the Tasmanian whiskey industry, which is somewhat revolutionary, due to the affordability of the distilling process when compared to traditional methods,  Jaume says “Before going to Tasmania we thought to make good whisky you’ve got to be in Scotland, and it would cost millions of pounds. But seeing that resourcefulness and innovation got our minds whirring away about bringing the idea back to Britain.”

Upon returning to the UK, armed with a business plan and a lot of ambition they were committed to emulating what they had seen, and set about creating an independent craft whiskey distillery in their home of Sutton-on-the-Forest in North Yorkshire. 

Interestingly, the couple sourced their copper whisky pot from Tasmania and believes they’re the only distiller outside of Australia and New Zealand to use one.

Where Does The Name Cooper King Distillery Come From?

Chris’ great-great-grandfather was a prominent figure in the mid to late 1800s. He was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Marine Artillery, and the Cooper King family tree can be followed all the way back to 1030, interestingly, the shield the shield of their ancestors, the Pigot family of Yorkshire, can be seen today in Ripon Cathedral.

Speaking about their venture, they write “Our mission is to bring you outstanding Yorkshire spirits underpinned by craftsmanship, honesty and adventure.

Friends, family and founders have come together to build a truly independent distillery from the ground up. With the stills now fired up, you can enjoy fine spirits produced in small batches without automation, using the very best ingredients that England has to offer.”

What Cooper King Distillery Products Are Available?

Although the first Whisky to come out of the Cooper King Distillery won’t be available until 2022, their dry gin is available to buy now. What’s more the company plants 1m2 of woodland in the Yorkshire Dales for every bottle sold.

Available from Amazon, £44.80, Buy Now

A gin, powered by 100% green energy. With rich junipor notes married with juicy citrus and floral layers of local honey to deliver a fresh, vibrant gin of exceptional character.

Made you feel thirsty? If Gin isn’t your thing, check out these guys for some awesome cocktail recipes, including the delicious Pocari cocktail.