What began as a hobby making sloe and damson gin as gifts for family and friends has grown into a business offering a range of more than 40 fruit-infused gins as well as a range of liqueurs, rums, whiskeys and ports. Run by well-known pedigree Holstein breeder John Loftus and his son-in-law, Tony Dalnas, Black Powder Gin launched in 2016 just as the market for artisan gins was taking off.
The original distillery, which was housed in a former cattle shed, is now a bar and tasting room, which hosts ‘Ginsperiences’ for guests, as well as corporate events and weddings. The naturally infused spirits are created in a new purpose-built distillery using fruit from the farm’s orchards, with no artificial flavours, colourings or preservatives. It’s a labour intensive process, says Tony, but one which gives Black Powder Gin its unique, artisan flavour.
"Our business incorporates both manufacturing and hospitality and with dangerous elements to making gin it was critical that we had comprehensive cover. H&H Insurance Brokers took time to fully understand our business and I would certainly recommend them, as the price was right too!"
- Tony Dalnas, Black Powder Gin
“We have an abundance of fruit growing on the farm which we use in our spirits. Over the last three years, we’ve planted hundreds of thousands of trees and bushes both to encourage wildlife, and for fruit to flavour our gins.”
The family, which has farmed at Preese Hall, near Preston, for more than a century, moved away from livestock following the sale of the Pedigree Weeton Holstein herd and its Aberdeen Angus cattle, to focus on its Country Storage self-storage business, leasing its agricultural buildings, and Black Powder Gin. “I think many farmers are looking at how they can diversify their businesses and create new opportunities,” says Tony, who worked in education before joining the family business.
“It was John who first made fruit gins as a hobby and, with the abundance of fruit on the farm, it made sense to experiment with flavours and create our own spirits.”
The business has expanded rapidly over the past five years, supported by grant funding through the LEADER scheme. The quality of its hand-made products has also been recognised with industry accolades including Gold at the 2019 World Gin Awards for its Flintlock Navy Strength Gin and Sidelock London Dry Gin.
For more information visit their website: https://blackpowdergin.co.uk/
I work closely with John and Tony at Black Powder Gin to ensure the business has the correct and appropriate cover for its specialist requirements. By sitting down and having a conversation with clients, we can understand the business and therefore create a bespoke policy which covers any quirks a business may have.