Imagine launching a business just before the country was thrown into lockdown… well, that’s exactly what Fiona McNeill and Hamish Allan did when Bashall Spirits was launched in 2019!
A LITTLE HISTORY. 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 x8 Aunt in 1750, a beautifully handwritten book (see photo). The second was written by Fiona’s Great x5 Grandmother Jennet Worsley around the middle of the nineteenth century (Jennet is an old Lancashire name and is also Fiona’s middle name).
The idea for Bashall Spirits was born when Fiona and Hamish realised their love of gin was the perfect route to bring these old traditional family recipes to a wider audience.
IT’S A WINNER! “The Gin Guide Awards 2021” is a prestigious, global event to celebrate exceptional spirits, distilleries and distillers.
With hundreds of entries from over 30 different countries, Bashall Spirits Damson and Elderberry Gin has been announced as a winner of the “Flavoured Category” for 2021 (one of just six international winners). This award-winning gin is based on Great x8 Aunt Anne’s damson wine recipe which added the twist of rich elderberries.
Owner of Bashall Spirits Fiona McNeill says “It was superb just to be shortlisted from hundreds of entries from all over the world. But to win is AMAZING! It’s still sinking in!”
Not to go unmentioned, Bashall Spirits entire flavour range (Orange & Quince, Parkin Cake, Damson & Elderberry) also received silver medals in the 2021 London Spirits Competition, joining the London Dry which received its silver the year before.
ABOUT: In spite launching in lockdown, the Bashall Spirits team have managed to successfully grow their brand and customer base, keeping their following entertained with weekly “Lockdown Cocktail Recipes” on their blog.
Whilst initial production of the Bashall gins is in Scotland (by a master distiller known by Fiona and Hamish) there are exciting plans to move production back to the Ribble Valley in the future.
