Yorkshire's first whisky distillery shortlisted in two regional Rural Business Awards finals
A North Yorkshire business has been named as one of the best in the North by the Rural Business Awards.
Hunmanby based Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery has been shortlisted in both the Best Rural Diversification Project and the Best Rural Tourismcategories of the Rural Business Awards 2019/20.
The three year old business was required todemonstrate the journey that co-founders David Thompson and Tom Mellor are taking towards establishing a business that is excelling in its chosen market and backed this up with examples of clear strategy, an understanding of the marketplace, growth and financial performance.
The pair also had to illustrate how they havecreated the foundations for continued commercial success for both awards.
Of the shortlist, David Thompson said: "Unlike most start-up businesses, we have to wait three years for our spirit to mature before we can market it as whisky, so we have had to find other ways, like tours, events and a destination coffee shop, to grow the business.
"To be shortlisted for one award is good, but two is amazing! It's a credit to our dedicated team who are working hard to put Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery on both the world whisky and the Yorkshire coast tourism maps."
Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery has been shortlisted in the rural tourism category alongside fellow North Yorkshire businesses Beech Farm and Cottages in the Dales to represent the North region that extends from Scotland to South Yorkshire. The regional winners will be announced at a ceremony at Newcastle University on 11thOctober and will go forward to a national final on 27th February, 2020.
TheRural Business Awards, run in partnership with Amazon, honour the best in British countryside enterprise.
Spirit of Yorkshire was launched in 2016 and is a collaboration between farmer and brewer, Tom Mellor from Wold Top Brewery and business partner, David Thompson. The pair have invested significantly to follow their dream of creating a Yorkshire whisky that doesn't simply replicate Scotch. The distillery is a true grain to glass setup and boasts some of the most impressive distilling equipment in the country, includingtwo of the largest Forsyth pot stills operating in the UK outside of Scotland. It is the only distillery operating in the UK that grows all of its own barley for its whisky production.
In addition to distilling whisky and conducting guided tours, Spirit of Yorkshire is home to the Pot Still Coffee Shop that serves a variety of home cooked, locally sourced food and hosts regular events including fortnightly Jazz and Blues nights, monthly Distillery Sessions and special events. Forthcoming events include a Never Mind the Hogshead quiz on 19thJuly, Distillery Sessions with Alastair James on 26thJuly and its annual open day on 10thAugust.
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Photo:Spirit of Yorkshire co-founder David Thompson David Thompson
Notes to editors
For more information or to arrange an interview with David Thompson or Tom Mellor, please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on;
Direct line:01430 871360
Mobile:07971 961574
E mail:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk
Web:www.three60marketing.co.uk
Notes to editors