High spirits as new gin firm launches

Jul 1 2009 by Joanne Butcher, The Journal

DRINKERS partial to a drop of Mother’s Ruin can now enjoy a truly local tipple.

Fledgling venture Northumbria Spirit has revived a centuries-old tradition of producing liquor in the Tyne Valley with the launch of a premium gin.

And, combined with Hexham-based Fentiman’s tonic water, it makes for a local G&T.

The gin, which is distilled to a 100-year-old recipe and blended with Northumberland spring water and locally-sourced hedgerow botanicals, is the culmination of a decade of hard work for Northumbria Spirit founders Andy Haddon, Jim Golightly and John Boyle.

The trio was inspired by the story of Jack Cain, a 19th-century Northumberland maverick and moonshine maker.

Mired in the shady world of smuggling, Jack acquired a still and settled in the Tyne valley. There, he supplied the thirsty workers of the industrial revolution with strong liquors.

But Jack’s fortunes took a turn for the worse when the body of local man Doctor Stirling was found near the illicit still on the banks of the Tyne.

He was tried for the murder, and despite being acquitted, fled to Australia.

Andy said: “We read about Jack’s story and it struck a chord with us. We wanted to make a drink that celebrated Northumbrian characters like Jack.

“We want to reintroduce the tradition of spirit-making to Northumbria and to give people the chance to source their drinks locally.

“We already had the gin recipe, which is over a hundred years old, and belonged to Jim’s great grandfather.”