London is known not only for its cultural heritage but also for the development of various forms of business. One of these is the Sacred Spirits microdistillery. It is a vivid example of a small enterprise that managed to achieve good results. What are the main features of the plant? What is the history of its creation and development? What technologies are used to produce beverages there? Learn more at londonname.
A quality born over centuries
The history of spirits, and in particular gin, began in London hundreds of years ago. Of course, there were many distilleries in the city. There were also those that produced drinks specially for the Royal Family. However, the number of factories, which differed in size and shape, was so large that sometimes the quality of products lost its importance. In the 18th century, London became one of the most famous producers of gin. However, such fame was credited to enterprises that paid the main attention to quality. At the end of the 19th century, small but more responsible distilleries began to work in London. They combine several centuries-old recipes with the latest technologies, and as a result, receive impeccable quality. This is the main goal of Sacred Spirits activity. The plant was established by former banker Ian Hart in 2009. At first, Sacred Microdistillery (it was the first name of the factory) specialised exclusively in gin, but over time, the range of products expanded significantly.
Inspiration as the key to a perfect product
The history of the factory began with inspiration. After being laid off from his previous work in 2008, Ian Hart fully immersed himself in the magic of spirits making. For a long time, he conducted various experiments and finally realised that his production should be based on vacuum distillation. In fact, there are very few distilleries in Great Britain, which use this method. The Sacred Spirits plant became one of those. The first batch of gin was produced there in May 2009. It happened after a long period of Ian Hart’s devoted experiments. The quality of the drink was impressive because most of the ingredients were of plant origin and were selected by hand. The vacuum distillation made it possible to preserve the richness of the aroma and taste. The gin included nutmeg, juniper and cardamom. In 2013, the recipe was even awarded the Double Gold Medal at the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco.
The factory developed rather slowly at the beginning of its history. At first, Ian Hart and his wife produced small batches and independently delivered the products to local bars and restaurants. Sacred Vodka and Sacred Gin were their first manufactured drinks. The main feature of the distillery is the unique equipment. The founders paid a lot of attention to this issue. In particular, they ordered special glassware. In general, the technologies allow for the adaptation of delicate equipment according to the distillation process. Correct handling of products also plays an important role in the final result. Plants are pre-soaked in wheat alcohol for about five weeks. In such a way, the manufacturer achieves complete extraction. After that, each extract is distilled separately. A little later, they can be combined in various ways. Thus, the taste of their special products depends on the combination of certain ingredients.