Luxury Devon hotel upgrades iconic sea tractor to be fuelled by exclusive Burgh Island Gin in an effort to bolster sustainability credentials.
Burgh Island has today announced that following the recent success in hosting the Bigbury Net Zero climate change assembly, it has upgraded the hotel’s iconic sea tractor to run entirely on Burgh Island’s bespoke and sustainably made gin, helping to move the hotel one step closer to South Ham’s goal of becoming Net Zero by 2030.
The one-of-a-kind Burgh Island hydraulic sea tractor was originally designed by Robert Jackson CBE in 1969 in exchange for a case of champagne. Therefore, it’s only fitting that the third generation tractor which ferries guests across the tidal causeway separating Burgh Island from the mainland can now be fuelled completely by gin!
As well as mirroring Burgh Island’s rugged hills, wild seas and rich nautical history, the North Point Distillery, which produces the gin, also reflects Burgh’s commitment to sustainability, making this the perfect partnership for producing the Burgh Island Gin.
Unlike Burgh’s upgraded tractor, North Point Distillery isn’t powered by Burgh Island Gin itself, however, most of its energy does come from Scotland’s Fross Wind Farm, making it one of the UK’s most eco-friendly distilleries. As an eco-conscious hotel, Burgh Island also tries to source power from renewable sources, for example, the solar array located on the disused tennis courts.
The Burgh Island Gin is infused with botanicals from the gardens and natural flora on the island. The rosemary, pine and thyme in the gin can be traced right back to Burgh’s own garden, managed by Apple Taylor, the resident gardener. Burgh Island has always been proud to follow a policy of sourcing produce locally, with 80% of the kitchen’s ingredients coming from within a 30 miles radius of the island.
Following Burgh’s sustainability protocol, the Burgh Island Gin is contained in bottles that are made from recycled glass, even the corks and labels coming from environmentally conscious partners with carbon-free certifications.
With spring arriving and the warmer months fast approaching, Burgh Island is eager to release its exclusive bespoke gin for consumers to purchase. Unfortunately, its capability as fuel is strictly limited to the unique sea tractor.
Giles Fuchs, Owner of Burgh Island Hotel, said: “In our never-ending quest to bolster our ESG commitments, I’m very excited to be launching our own sustainable Burgh Island gin in partnership with North Point Distillery. Burgh Island is known as a leading eco-hotel in the UK, so it’s only fitting to be working with a leader in distilling and sustainability.
And what a bonus that our bespoke gin can double up as fuel for the much-loved sea tractor – rest assured we will be keeping it away from the driver while he is on duty!”
Alex MacDonald, Co-Founder of North Point Distillery, said: “We crossed paths with the Burgh Island team by chance, but ours has proven to be an ideal partnership. For a start, both organisations are keen to operate as sustainably as possible. The fact that we can help deliver this brilliant bespoke gin for fans of the hotel to enjoy gives us a great sense of satisfaction.”
