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About Us Strawberry Bank Liqueurs Ltd.
The Business
Mike and Helen Walsh established Strawberry Bank Liqueurs at The Masons Arms, the pub they owned on Cartmel Fell, in 2001. That was the year of the foot and mouth epidemic and had a devastating efecton country life. In particular, so many footpaths were closed to walkers that the pub was very quiet. As damsons were a local speciality (indeed, damson beer used to be made on the premises) the couple started to produce damson gin to give them extra income.
The damson gin, produced from the juice of local Damsons (What are Damsons?) grow in the Lyth valley, prove so popular that they decided to sell the Masons Arms and concentrate on the production of liqueurs with a view to increase the range.
In 2002 they moved production to a purpose built food unit at Plumgarth Food Park just outside Kendal. Here they increased the range to five, Damson Gin, Sloe Gin, Blackberry Gin, Strawberry Vodka and Blackberry Liqueur (whiskey base).
In 2005 with the help of grants from Leader+ and Distinctly Cumbrian an automatic labeller was purchase from Pago to help increase production. |
|  | The Products
The Damson gin is made from pure damson juice, London dry gin (What is Gin?) and cane sugar. The Walsh's have modernised the production of damson gin by milling and pressing the damsons to produce pure juice which when added to gin and sugar produces instant damson gin. The damson are all sourced in the Lyth valley from local farmers, neighbours and Mike and Helens own orchard.
Damson gin is traditionally drunk neat as a winter warmer, aperitif or liqueur but can also have ice and tonic added to produce a long cool summer drink. It can be used in various recipes with red meat, is excellent in all game dishes and in desserts.
Pure fruit juices are bought in for the production of all the other liqueurs.
Sloe gin can be used in the same way as damson gin, as can blackberry gin, but this is superb when added to sparkling white wine or champagne similar to a French kir.
Blackberry liqueur is produced from blended scotch whiskey, blackberry juice, cane sugar and again is excellent mixed with sparkly white wine or champagne.
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| Mike and Helen thought it would be a good idea, due to the name of the company, to make a liqueur using strawberries, hence Strawberry Vodka.
It is made from triple distilled vodka (What is Vodka?), strawberry juice, cane sugar and has proved to be a popular drink, specially with the young. |
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