News

06 Jul 2018

First gin from hands-free crop

The world’s first hands-free crop has produced a 30-bottle batch of Merywen gin flavoured with barley.

Produced by North Star Distillery, in North Wales, in conjunction with Harper Adams University, the Hands Free Hectare Gin is not for sale, but will instead be sampled by key sponsors and others involved in the Hands Free Hectare project.

The success of the initiative to date is highlighting the growing role of autonomy in the agricultural and rural sectors providing future opportunities for those looking for fresh business ideas.

Harper Adams University researcher Jonathan Gill, who led the gin-production project, said, “We have wanted to make beer since we successfully harvested the spring barley last autumn, but brewing takes time. The benefit of gin, in addition to its current soaring popularity, is that it can be flavoured over a much shorter time frame.

“North Star Distillery have done a fantastic job with the Hands Free Hectare Gin. The barley gives it a smooth, warm flavour which would go very well with apple or berries.”

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