10 years of the Mermaid Spirits range was marked by a 10th anniversary thank you event at the Sugar Store in Shepards Marina in Cowes on the Isle of Wight recently. Guests at a packed Sugar Store enjoyed entertainment including acrobatic displays and dance from Arts with Alicia.
Produced on the Island at the Isle of Wight Distillery in Pondwell, Mermaid market 3 Gins, a salt Vodka and a spiced Rum. During the last year 450.000 bottles have been produced and over the past 10 years 3 million have left the distillery.
Now a limited 10th anniversary edition of the original Mermaid Gin at 46% proof has been crafted. This version has double the amount of rock samphire, with added fig leaves from Ventnor Botanic Gardens and was launched in London the previous evening.
Assembled guests, who all played a part in the remarkable success of Mermaid, heard co-founder Xavier Baker explain how he and Conrad Gauntlett, known for his Rosemary Vineyard, became one of the second wave of artisan British Gin makers.
A number of experimental recipes eventually led to the finished Gin that has proved so popular. Next, was the small matter of acquiring HMRC approval, which was problematic to say the least. Once production started, the first case of the original Mermaid Gin 42%, was destined for the Portsmouth Gin Festival.
With Mermaid Gin finding a place in a competitive artisan market, COVID came on the scene and saw Conrad stranded in New Zealand. During the pandemic, the distillery produced ‘Wight Wash’, a hand sanitizer which was used by the NHS and public.
Thanks to sales director Malcolm McClellan, Mermaid now has 250 accounts and is marketed in 52 countries worldwide.
Mermaid’s iconic’ fish scales’ bottle was designed by Nicola Feletto, who is based in Treviso in Italy, and he was present at the celebration in Cowes.
During Cowes Week the Mermaid collection will be available across the town and the brand is supporting two events at Northwood House where there will also be a Mermaid Lounge. Visit isleofwightdistillery.com to find out more about Mermaid’s range.
