Tarquin's Cornish Gin opens new St.Ives Gin School and Shop

After Cornwall welcomed 2.5 million visitors last summer, the team at Tarquin's Cornish Gin has made the necessary steps to prepare for the arrival of this summers' British holidaymakers enjoying staycations and minimoons in the region by distilling almost a quarter of a million litres of its award-winning gin over the last couple of months.

The gin is distilled then bottled, filled, labelled, wax-sealed, stamped and signed by hand, creating hand-crafted spirits. Anticipating those visiting the county famed for its world-renowned beaches to be looking to let their hair down following months spent in lockdown, the team has ensured enough bottles are made to satisfy the thirst of visitors, resulting in stock that could stretch across the county, from Lands End to Bude.

Although Tarquin's Cornish Gin has been Amazon's best-selling gin for three years running, sales indicate that a trip to this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is not complete without the purchase of a bottle of the spirit to take home. Tarquin's Cornish Gin is celebrating the opening of the Gin School and Shop in St.Ives this week and the main distillery is located just outside Padstow which also offers a Gin School and Shop. Later this year, the brand will open a third Gin Shop in Fowey. Tours are available from mid-May but visitors can enjoy tastings and also wax their own bottle on fridays and saturdays at the Cellar Door.

Tarquin Leadbetter, founder and master distiller at Southwestern Distillery tells us, "I'm incredibly excited to open our two new stores in time for summer. We've had an incredible reaction to our shop in Padstow from locals and tourists alike! We can't wait to welcome people through our doors to taste our amazing gins, learn from our incredible team and even wax their own bottle in dedicated sessions!"

The two new shops will stock the full range of Tarquin's award-winning gins as well as three new rums and seasonal, limited-edition beverages. A special feature of Tarquin's Gin School masterclass, to be hosted in the Padstow and St.Ives-based Gin Schools, is that budding distillers can even bring in their own botanicals to make their own gin using homegrown herbs to foraged fruits.

The shops in St.Ives and Padstow are open 10am until 6pm seven days a week. To find out more, visit https://www.tarquinsgin.com/our-stores