The Royal Horticultural Society is teaming up with Harrogate Tipple to create a selection of RHS-branded spirits including premium gin, whisky and rum.
The core products will be ready for RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2022. The bottle and labels are still at the design stage but will use imagery that, like the spirits, captures and combines Harrogate Tipple’s artisan ideals with the inspirational aims of the gardening charity.
The range will then be available at retail from the beginning of June, selling at a number of physical and online outlets that include spirit retailers, garden centres and independent wine stores. It will also be sold via the Harrogate Tipple and RHS websites and at RHS Gardens.
The RHS is also planning to launch some special limited edition flavours of the various spirits, making use of botanical ingredients from each of the RHS gardens and taking inspiration from RHS Flower Shows. For this it will call on the expertise of Harrogate Tipple’s multi-award-winning Master Distiller, Tom Nichol, who will bring over 45 years of experience in the industry to overseeing the entire range of drinks.
The RHS botanicals were a theme of the special ‘creation day’ of the RHS/Harrogate Tipple partnership, which took place at the company’s Ripley Castle Estate at the end of 2021. The choice of botanicals included offerings from all five RHS gardens, from which RHS representatives brought ingredients including fruits from conifer trees, rosehips, flowers, berries and scented foliage.
“We were thrilled to be asked to develop a series of spirits that reflected the excellence and love of British gardens that is the hallmark of the RHS,” commented Steven Green, founder of Harrogate Tipple. “It has been a delight to work with the UK’s favourite gardening charity and a strong supporter of British craft company produced food and drink.”
Cathy Snow, licensing manager at the RHS, added: “Our intention was partnering with a distillery that combined a true artisan approach with the creativity and excellence that would make RHS gin, whisky and rum stand out. Not an easy task, but in Harrogate Tipple we have found the ideal partner for a range of spirits that are both memorable and delicious.”
The partnership was negotiated by licensing agent, Asgard Media.
Robyn Cowling, head of strategic partnerships at Asgard Media, said: “We are delighted to have connected our client Harrogate Tipple with the wonderful RHS. The two brands really complement one another, and we can’t wait to see the final products on shelf – and out in the wild.”
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