In 2014 Kate and Ben Marston took a bold decision and embark on a new career path, focusing their creative talents not solely just on the visual but also the senses of touch, taste and smell.
The couple were keen that at the heart of their business, was not just a great range of gins but an ethos to create spirits of an exceptional nature mindful of community and environment. This is reflected in many facets of the business that from day one has adopted sustainable operating practices.
For over five years the Puddingstone team has collaborated with local wildlife trusts, creating innovative, fundraising gins. Ultrasonic Gin, for example, is themed around bat conservation and uses ultrasound to increase extraction of botanical flavour and aroma lowering botanical input mass, whilst Boxmoor Gin uses rare, locally sourced juniper for a gin that supports the Box Moor Trust.
In 2016 after months of research, experiments and exams, the doors to Puddingstone Distillery, the first gin distillery in Hertfordshire, opened to the public and their release, Campfire London Dry was instantly met with high praise from consumers and industry experts who, in the last six years have bestowed upon the Campfire Gin range, 36 international spirits awards. In 2019 they won the World's Best Martini Challenge using their Campfire London Dry Gin and in 2021 were awarded the prestigious title of The Gin Guide’s Distillery of the Year.
Why Campfire? you may ask. Well, because it was around campfires, that Kate and Ben enjoyed, food, warmth, relaxation, the company of friends and of course, a gin and tonic. As for Puddingstone, this is a rare geological feature found primarily in their home county of Hertfordshire and is believed to have the ability to ward off evil spirits.
The original citrus, juniper forward Campfire London Dry Gin was, in 2017, joined by smooth, robust Campfire Navy Strength and complex Campfire Cask Aged Gins. Barrels for the cask aged gin are sourced directly from Kings County Distillery, selected for the soft vanilla notes they bring to the gin. Rounding up the quartet is Campfire Old Tom Gin. It was the last of the Campfire range to be developed and based on the concept of what Puddingstone Distillery would have created as a rural distillery back in the 17th century.
“We’re very proud of our business and as such are transparent about how we operate. It’s why we designed the distillery so visitors can see Annie, Amelia and Isabella, the three stills on which we make our gins. Our distillery shop is open on Friday and Saturday for free tastings and for those wanting to know a bit more we also run evening tours and cocktail masterclasses” commented Kate, “but I let Ben do the talking!”
For information on tours, tastings, cocktail events, gin and food pairings, competitions and much more, head to the website and sign up to the newsletter to get first access to all that is new and going on.
