Black Mountain Botanicals 48% Distiller’s Cut has been awarded Gold status by a panel of high profile drink industry judges in the 2020 USA Spirits Ratings Competition.
Produced in the shadow of the Black Mountains, in deepest South West Herefordshire, Co-Founders Lloyd Reed and Glyn Bufton say they’re delighted that their business is taking off on another level since their initial creation of ‘Hill Billy’ gin in 2018.
This latest recognition in the USA ratings demonstrates that one of Herefordshire’s leading independent gin producers now looks set to succeed across the water.
“We’re really thrilled to have scored so highly on the various factors that determine the drinkability of a spirit, a lot of emphasis is put on creating a gin with broad consumer appeal,” says Lloyd. “We use twelve botanicals and a much slower distillation process in the creation of the Distillers Cut which delivers that incredible silky smooth taste.”
On entering 2020, full of excitement after achieving their first two years of successful trading as a craft gin producer and with all the distillery equipment paid for, business couldn’t have looked more promising. After launching several new spirits which took the industry by storm they received the ultimate seal of approval, a double gold at the London International Spirits Competition.
Glyn comments that despite the arrival of covid they’ve continued to build on their incredible success. “The lockdowns have hit the pub trade and our accommodation businesses hard, but thanks to our innovative creation of hand sanitiser and the increased online gin sales our business has blossomed. Scooping gold in the States is a real sign we’re on the up.”
Lloyd agrees saying they’ve certainly made their own luck. “We’re taking the opportunity to undergo a full distillery refit which will include two new stills, a visitors centre and a gin school. We are looking forward to normality in the Spring of 2021 and with our usual ‘can do’ enthusiasm we hope to welcome our customers to a brand new look and experience.”
Visitors will be able to make their own personalised gin, stay over in top class farmhouse accommodation or in luxury riverside yurts, whilst taking in the stunning South Herefordshire countryside.”
Herefordshire Gin Scoops Gold Award in USA