Southwestern Distillery

With a passion to bring a slice of Cornish sunshine to the rest of the world, Tarquin Leadbetter founded Southwestern Distillery in 2012.

Tarquin is dedicated to supporting local people and protecting the animals and coastline of Cornwall. The distillery uses renewable energy, making use of their windswept, hilltop location and has a zero-to-landfill waste policy that includes the heads and tails left from their distillations being turned into Bio-Fuel. Southwestern are also involved with organisations such as Surfers Against Sewage and Cornwall Wildlife Trust who work hard to ensure the environment and animals of Cornwall are being cared for and protected.

With an ethos is built around innovation and experimentation, Tarquin mixes traditional techniques, quality ingredients and old-fashioned equipment with modern ideas. Now the award-winning Cornish distillery has a wide range of small batch gin, rum and vodka.

 

Yeghes Da! (Cheers!)

 

Gin

The distillery’s first release was Tarquin’s Cornish Dry Gin, created by Tarquin after 12 months of experimentation using his kitchen stove! Once the recipe was perfected Tarquin invested in a second-hand copper pot still and the first bottle was sold on 30th June 2013.

Tarquin’s Cornish Dry Gin, 70cl

Distilled with 12 botanicals sourced from Cornwall and beyond, this gin is a contemporary take on a classic London dry gin.

Try in a Cornish 75

Pour 25ml lemon juice, 10ml sugar syrup and 50ml gin into a cocktail shaker then fill up with ice. Shake well then strain into a champagne flute. Top with a little champagne, leave to settle (as it will bubble up) then fill up with more champagne before garnishing with a strip of lemon zest.

Tarquin’s British Blackberry Gin, 70cl

Created by infusing Tarquin’s flagship Cornish Gin with the great British blackberries and adding a touch of local Cornish wildflower honey to bring fragrant sweetness and balance.

Try in a Blackberry Bramble

Add 50ml gin, 30ml lemon juice and 30ml simple syrup to an iced shaker. Shake hard for 20 seconds and double strain into a chilled glass filled with crushed ice. Drizzle over 10ml gin and garnish with fresh blackberries and rosemary.

Rum

The result of two years creative experimentation, Twin Fin launched in 2020. The finest Caribbean rum sails across the Atlantic to land at the Cornish distillery before being blended with fruits and spices from around the world.

Twin Fin Spiced Golden Rum, 70cl

A rich, smooth rum with bold vanilla notes, combined with exotic citrus and a light smoky finish. Serve with your favourite mixer or pop a dash into a hot chocolate!

Try in a Bananarumba Punch

Add 50ml rum, 50ml pineapple juice and 25ml orange juice to a shaker with lots of ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a hurricane or high ball glass filled with ice. Top with soda and drizzle over 1tsp grenadine (optional). Garnish with a pineapple slice.

Twin Fin Pineapple & Pink Grapefruit Rum, 70cl

A bold and bright rum with tropical fruit and zesty pink grapefruit notes and a light and refreshing finish.

Try in a Cornish Caipirinha

Muddle 50ml rum, ¼ lime, a pineapple slice and 1tsp brown sugar in a tall glass, stir in lots of ice and mint then top with pineapple juice and a touch of soda. Garnish with a wedge of fresh pineapple.

Vodka

The most recent addition to the range is Connie Glaze, a sand filtered vodka that launched in 2023.

Connie Glaze Slow Sand Filtered Vodka, 70cl

Inspired by Constantine Bay on the Wild Cornish Coast, each small batch is filtered through purified sand sourced from the local coast at the distillery.  A process of filtration used for centuries in purifying drinking water, it creates a pure and clean spirit as fresh as the Atlantic breeze. 1% of sales are donated to Beach Guardian, supporting their work cleaning Constantine Bay and the Cornish cost.

Try in a High Tide Spritz

Load a highball glass with ice, add 50ml vodka and top up with 150ml lime soda water. Garnish with sprigs of rosemary and fresh lime wedges. Squeezing a little bit of lime into your glass for that extra zesty kick!

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