Rugby Distillery

In the peaceful Rugby fields, the Rugby Gin Distillery shines as a hub of careful spirit-making, adding a unique local flavour. This includes not only the taste but also the rich history of the area. Located on a beautiful farm near Rugby, the distillery makes gins in small batches. Each bottle tells stories of the Warwickshire countryside and the famous sport of Rugby.

The distillery uses a traditional but detailed process. They use copper stills and mix 13 botanicals into the gin, giving it a rich flavour. Most of these botanicals are from Britain, such as Juniper, Coriander, Orris Root, Cardamom, and others. The 13th ingredient is special – grass from where William Webb Ellis, who invented Rugby, once played.

The distillery's connection to Rugby is clear in the gin's production and branding. The bottles, with handmade glass stoppers, look like rugby players' broad shoulders. They also have stripes like the original rugby shirts. The logo combines the rugby goalpost with symbols of the stills and botanicals.

The main gin, "1823 Dry Gin", is named after the year Webb Ellis made his famous rugby run. It includes grass from 'The Close', where he played. As the distillery nears its 200th anniversary in 2023, every bottle celebrates this history.

They also have other gins like “1878 Navy Strength Gin”, honouring rugby history. For example, it commemorates the first Army Navy Rugby match in 1878. The distillery also offers flavoured gins. Their Rhubarb Gin has a strong taste and vibrant pink colour. The Menton Lemon Gin links to Menton, France, where Webb Ellis is buried. These lemons give the gin a unique citrus flavour.

So, the Rugby Gin Distillery is more than a gin maker. It's a reminder of Rugby's history and culture with every sip.