The Royal Spring distillery makes spirits that prioritise the impact and importance of water in the production of drinks. Its water source comes from a 100-metre borehole that dates back to 1893. Originally it was dug on the former Royal Iron Works, Keighley to power mill machinery, but it was left dormant for decades after the site closed down.
The long-forgotten water source was rediscovered in the late 1990s, and following hydrological surveys was identified as a vast underground aquifer that held pure natural mineral water. Officially named “Royal Spring” in recognition of its location in the heart of Bronte country, the water source is classed a rare artesian type, meaning it emerges under its own natural pressure which aids natural filtration. The water originates as rainfall over the stunning Haworth Moor, before the pressure feeds the water slowly through the underground strata where it gathers and absorbs minerals for at least a century before it emerges.
The water is blended and bottled at source and no industrial pumping machinery is used to extract the water. It undergoes no treatments (just gentle filtration) to preserve its exceptional composition which is full of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and other trace elements. This enhances the profile of the water and the spirits made with it as the elements interact with compounds in the spirit. Royal Spring’s water is certified on the UK Government's list of recognised Natural Mineral Waters, with an optimal 7.3 pH, a perfect 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium, and a low exit temperature of 7℃.
Royal Spring is one of just 25 recognised natural mineral water sources in England.