Johnsons get into the ‘Christmas Spirit’ with a company gin!

Johnsons get into the ‘Christmas Spirit’ with a company gin!

Johnsons get into the ‘Christmas Spirit’ with a company gin!

Following a successful project to develop corporate ales ‘Whixley Gold’ and ‘Copper Beech’, the next exciting step was the creation of our own high-quality London Dry Gin.

Discussions with local distilling experts ‘Corks & Cases’ of Masham helped the project to proceed… and we have now proudly taken delivery of our first batch.

Our ‘Quixley Gin’ is named after the village of Whixley formally known as ‘Quixley’ in the 14th century. For many years, Quixley (now Whixley) was famous for cherries which were originally cultivated by the friars from the Priory of Knaresborough and, in later times, were sold in London at Covent Garden. A great day of celebration was the annual Whixley Cherry Feast held on the first Sunday in August. The word feast meant “festival” rather than the scoffing of huge amounts of the fruit too!

The ‘Quixley Gin’ concept is the brainchild of Ellie Richardson who is a third-generation member of the Richardson family who bought the now-Johnsons of Whixley business from First World War veteran, Eric Johnson, in 1964.

The gin was first produced at the Spirit of Masham’s distillery following a ‘Gin Experience’ gin creation afternoon. A group of Johnsons employees worked alongside Derek and Jake (Gin Experience experts) to create a range of cherry-themed gins before reducing the shortlist to our collective favourite.

The label features an illustration taken from a bygone photo of the village, along with cherry blossom graphics to enhance the ‘Quixley’ story.

The gin will be given to long-term customers and suppliers as a thank you for their custom over the years.

Johnsons of Whixley’s marketing co-ordinator, Ellie Richardson, said: “I’m extremely proud of my heritage and where I have grown up and, along with a natural love of gin, I thought Quixley Gin was the perfect concept.

“We think our horticulturally-themed gin creates a fitting connection between Whixley village and Johnsons of Whixley who still sell 50,000 cherry trees annually.”

Posted 4th Dec 8:00am