Burleighs Gin, the Leicestershire distiller, has reopened the doors of its popular gin academy after an extensive refurbishment.
Burleighs Gin Academy has been closed throughout the Covid-19 pandemic but is relaunching its popular distillery tours and gin distilling experiences at its revamped headquarters, based on Bawdon Lodge Farm near Loughborough.
The distillery has been completely redecorated, with a fresh coat of paint throughout and new canvases and artwork added to the walls. It has also been fully furnished with new equipment, including two portable distilling benches where guests can create their very own gin using new copper stills, which have also been added as part of the renovation.
The specialist work benches are a significant investment by Burleighs Gin to improve the sustainability of the company – storing water beneath which is passed through a purification filter, ready for use in the gin making process.
Twelve new miniature copper stills, imported from Portugal have been specially installed to allow visitors to create their own unique recipes using a bespoke mix of botanicals, and produced using the same techniques that are used to create Burleighs signature gins from the main still. The new miniature copper stills will also be used for recipe development by the company’s master distiller so Burleighs customers can look forward to even more distinctive gins to enjoy.
The totally authentic gin-making experience is now available to 24 people at a time, making it the perfect attraction for parties to enjoy the experience together or individuals or couples to book on to one of the group courses.
Further changes made by Burleighs Gin include new biodegradable and recyclable packaging, to complement its existing solar powered electricity. All glass bottles and cardboard boxes at the site are recycled via a comprehensive recycling system.
The company also recycles the gin that does not get used to ensure its wastage is as low as possible – the ‘tails’, which is the final part of each distillation and is typically low in alcohol, are reused in the next distilling batch.
Sam Watson, commercial director of Burleighs Gin, said: “As difficult as lockdown has been for us as a business, it has presented Burleighs with a great opportunity to completely refurbish the gin academy, ensuring our guests have the best experience possible with the most innovative equipment – and all in a welcoming environment.
“Throughout the renovations, sustainability has been a leading factor in our decisions. We want to be a company that makes the right changes to protect the environment and be a role model for future generations.”
The Burleighs Gin Academy reopened to the public on 26th June and offers a tour of the working distillery and insight into the unique world of a distiller. Guests can also learn how to create a unique gin which they can take home with them at the end of the experience, selecting a bespoke mix of botanicals to distil the gin in one of Burleighs’ pot stills, made from copper for a smoother flavour.
