“This is seriously the best gin I have tried and I have surfed that gin wave so have tried a few. This one makes my previous favourite taste coarse. It is smooth and totally drinkable neat over ice but amazing with tonic too. In blind taste tests against some biggies it was a favourite. Beautiful local gin, obviously made with love.” Waitrose customer

From an early age Mary was involved in farming; her family running a small farm and managing a menagerie of animals in order to be self-sufficient. The seeds of environmental responsibility and sustainable living were planted in Mary from this early age.

Mary’s passion for experimentation with food and drink traces back to her parents living and working in Nigeria. Mary’s father was a keen cook and loved, in particular, creating recipes using unusual herbs and spices. Following in her father’s footsteps, with a particular passion for African and Asian flavours, this joy in utilising exotic ingredients has been the guiding force in developing her unique gin.

The starting point for The Willow Tree Distilling Company stems from the time Mary spent in Detroit as an adventurous twenty-something. Her love of travel and adventure took her to the United States for 5 years where the American dream and entrepreneurial spirit rubbed off on her and sowed the seed of creating her own product and operating her own sustainable and socially responsible business.

When the time came to fulfil her dream of running her own business, Mary took a huge leap of faith and committed to it full time. She set about researching ideas and possible products to create her own company. From the outset, family and friends were canvassed, always with the aim of creating a local high-quality product, focused on flavour.

After a couple of iterations experimenting with various ideas, a chance comment about a friend flavouring whiskey sent Mary down the path of researching spirits production and the realisation of the growing popularity of craft gins. After completing a course in distilling and achieving the required licences, a still was purchased and the flavour experimentation began!

It was another year of research into flavour combinations before Mary was satisfied she had created a truly unique gin.

There are a number of factors in the recipe that sets Willow Tree Gin apart including the particular herb and spice blend and the smoking process using carefully selected wood on the farm to impart a smooth richness to the gin.

Willow Tree Gin is a uniquely English product but at the same time inspired by cultures, flavours and plants from all over the world. It draws on warm, verdant summer days in the countryside but also a sense of adventure, global travel and desire for new experiences.

Willow Tree Gin is handcrafted, environmentally conscious, and distilled with care and love for its drinker and for the planet it was made on. 50p from the sale of every 50cl bottle goes to planting new trees in the forest of Marston Vale.

Mary is offering free delivery to Horsemanship Showcase ticket holders on orders placed today!

For more information about Willow Tree Gin, creative gin recipes, and to place your order visit https://www.willowtreedistilling.co.uk

Free delivery within the UK to anyone purchasing at the show (worth £6.75) Voucher code WTHS02