An 18th Century recipe from a family cook book helped to inspire a Ribble Valley firm to a global award.
Fiona McNeill and Hamish Allan launched Bashall Spirits in 2019 just months before the country was thrown into a full lockdown.
The inspiration for Bashall Spirits gins came from two handwritten recipe books passed down for generations in Fiona’s family, who lived on the Bashall Eaves family estate.
The oldest book was created by Anne Taylor, Fiona’s Great Aunt in 1750 and was handwritten.
The second was written by Fiona’s Great Grandmother Jennet Worsley around the middle of the nineteenth century.
The recipe book dates back to the eighteenth century
‘The Gin Guide Awards 2021’ celebrates ‘exceptional spirits, distilleries and distillers’.
Bashall Spirits Damson and Elderberry Gin was announced as a recipient of the ‘Flavoured Category’ for 2021 and was one of just six international winners. Their gin is based on Great Aunt Anne’s damson wine recipe which added the twist of rich elderberries.
Owner of Bashall Spirits Fiona McNeill said “It was superb just to be shortlisted from hundreds of entries from all over the world. But to win isamazing. It’s still sinking in!”
Bashall Spirits entire flavour range also received silver medals in the 2021 London Spirits Competition, joining the London Dry which received its silver a year earlier.
Whilst initial production of the Bashall gins is in Scotland there are plans to move production back to the Ribble Valley in the future.
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