The Willow Tree Distilling Company Ltd

About

We are Willow Tree Distillery, Bedfordshire’s first and only distillery and home of the award-winning Willow Tree Gin. Founded in 2016, Willow Tree gin was distilled on Mary’s family farm in Leighton Buzzard. However, earlier this year we moved location to the little hamlet of Thorncote Green, where we have recently opened our distillery to the public. At the distillery we have our shop where you can buy the full Willow Tree range, our bar where you can enjoy an array of Willow Tree G+T’s both inside and in our garden, and our mini-stills where groups can come in and have the opportunity to make their own bottles of gin and choose their own herbs and botanicals, based on what flavours they like. The distillery is all about community and bringing people together and we can’t wait to launch our gin experiences! It all started when Mary, founder of Willow Tree, spent long hot summer days as a child under the weeping willow trees on the family farm. Having environmental responsibility and being sustainable has been a huge passion of hers from a young age. Her passion to experiment with food and drink traces back to her parents living and working in Nigeria. Her father was a keen cook, and loved creating recipes using unusual herbs and spices. This later on led her to explore these exotic African and Asian flavours, which can be tasted in the unique blend of Willow Tree Gin. Mary took the plunge to start her own business when reflecting on her five year stay in Detroit. The entrepreneurial spirit stuck with her, motivating her to create her own product and start her own sustainable and socially responsible business. From this, she set about researching ideas and possible products to start her own company. After experimenting with various ideas, a chance comment about a friend flavouring whiskey sent her down the path of researching spirit production, and she realised the growing popularity of craft gins. She then completed a course in distilling, achieved the required licenses, purchased a still and began the flavour experimentation process. However, the journey had just begun, as it took another year of research into flavour combinations before she was 100% satisfied with Willow Tree’s unique flavour. One of the factors that sets us apart from other gins is its particular herb and spice blend, and the smoking process using carefully selected wood on the farm to impart a smooth richness to the gin. After a year of experimentation, Willow Tree Gin was born inspired by cultures, flavours and plants from all over the word. Drawing on warm, verdant summer days in the countryside, but also a sense of adventure, global travel and desire for new experiences. After perfecting Willow Tree Gin’s flavour, it was extremely important to us that the process for manufacturing our gin was sustainable and environmentally conscious. To reduce impact on resources the water used in the distilling process is recycled in a closed loop twin condenser and the botanicals that give the gin its unique flavour are composted afterwards and used to fertilise and grow fresh herbs. Sold in classically beautiful glass bottles, the packaging uses as little plastic as possible. After researching local charities we came across the Forest Centre of Marston Vale’s website, and was extremely impressed by their ethos, goals and aims which aligned with Willow Tree’s to be sustainable and environmentally conscious. It was the perfect fit for the business, and a great way for our customers to get involved in supporting the environment. Willow Tree Distillery is now working closely in collaboration with the Forest of Marston Vale - donating a percentage from every full-size bottle of Willow Tree Gin sold to ensure new trees are planted for future generations to enjoy. Willow Tree Gin is a premium spirit made from the highest quality ingredients and distilled in small batches in a true craft fashion, it is smooth, sweet, fresh and citrusy with a unique smokey character and richness.