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Advertising Feature: The Isle of Wight Distillery How To Choose The Right Marina: with Ben Lippiett, Boatfolk40-41
THE ISLE OF WIGHT DISTILLERY, HOME OF MERMAID GIN
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Rooted in the natural landscape of a unique Island, the Isle of Wight Distillery craft spirits shaped by the stunning surroundings and unique character of the Island. Doing things differently, minimising waste, they use ethically sourced and often local, foraged ingredients to craft a range of smooth, complex spirits.
Sustainably crafted spirits
Hand-crafted on the Isle of Wight, Mermaid Gin delivers a smooth yet complex blend of fresh organic lemon zest and peppery grains of paradise, with a hint of sea air from wild foraged, fragrant rock samphire. The name ‘Mermaid’ was inspired by this lead botanical, known locally as ‘mermaid’s kiss’.
Alongside Mermaid Gin, the Distillery produces subtly sweet, naturally flavoured Mermaid Pink Gin, infused with fresh Island strawberries grown in the rich and fertile microclimate of the Arreton valley and Mermaid Salt Vodka (a favourite with mixologists), using salt harvested from the flood tide off the Island’s southern coast. The team also craft HMS Victory Navy Strength Gin and Rum, in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy, with a percentage of profits going towards the ongoing restoration of the Victory herself.
Awarded first place in the IWSC Design Awards and certified as plastic-free, the Distillery’s signature spirit Mermaid is bottled in recyclable glass, with a sustainably sourced natural cork and compostable tamper-proof seal. As a Net Zero brand, the team have joined a growing, progressive, community of carbon neutral organisations. The Distillery is purpose-driven; inspired by the natural world to create premium, hand-crafted spirits, working in connection with nature.
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Working with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to restore Solent seagrass
As part of their commitment to sustainability, conservation and a circular economy, the team are proactive in helping to protect the environment, actively working to reduce their carbon footprint and working with local charity Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to support seagrass meadow restoration projects in the Solent.
As well as providing a home for seahorses, fish and other marine life, seagrass also plays a part in preventing coastal erosion and improving water quality. Most impressively, it sequesters carbon 35 times faster than the rainforests, making it a star player in combating climate change.
At the Mermaid Bar at the Isle of Wight Distillery, visitors are greeted by a larger-than-life seahorse in a bed of seagrass. Hand painted by ATM, a street artist well known for his wildlife pieces, this stunning mural is part of the Secrets of the Solent campaign by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Secrets of the Solent is designed to raise awareness of the incredible and diverse marine life that lives beneath our local waters, with 6 murals commissioned to bring these creatures to life.
In recent months, the Distillery’s partnership with the Trust has seen the team involved in planting trials on the Island and at Langstone Harbour. These trials are investigating the use of the seagrass strain Sargassum in seabeds which were once thriving seagrass meadows. It’s hoped that the samples will flourish and become part of the process to revive the damaged meadows throughout the Solent.
To keep up to date with the Isle of Wight Distillery’s sustainability initiatives and spirit releases, head to isleofwightdistillery.com Contact: Tel: 01983 613653 | Email: office@isleofwightdistillery.com isleofwightdistillery.com Facebook: @iowdistillery | @mermaidgin Instagram: @isleofwightdistillery | @mermaidgin LinkedIn: Isle of Wight Distillery
