One of the world’s most iconic drinks used to be manufactured right here in Liverpool, and if you prefer to save the pennies when buying your alcoholic beverages, you most certainly will have had it before.
Lambrini has been a popular choice of drink since its creation in 1994 and was produced at the Halewood International factory in Huyton for over 20 years. Although presented as a wine, the tipple is actually a fruity pear cider.
The drink is iconic for being so cheap and is often regarded as being a "chavvy" beverage, with some young adults opting to drink it on the streets and at house parties. Lambrini was sold to Accolade Wines in 2021 which is when it ceased to be made by the Liverpool factory.
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When it was still produced at Huyton Industrial Estate, a small team of factory workers churned out over 20,000 bottles of Lambrini in just one hour with the help of some impressive technology. This is according to an ECHO article published in 2015 describing the manufacturing process.
It takes around six weeks for the Lambrini to be made before reaching the bottle. The manufacturing process varies depending on the flavour being produced, with Lambrini being available in Original (the iconic fermented pear flavour), Cherry, Peach, Strawberry and Luci. The latter is a "skinny" version of the original drink.
When manufactured at the Huyton factory, which also produced Crabbies Ginger Beer and Navy Rum, the bottles of Lambrini began life at the labelling machine. They were then washed and filled before travelling along a mechanical belt which checks they are all filled to the right amount and seals each bottle.
Then, the bottles are grouped into boxes of six, before a machine organises them onto pallets. The final stop is the distribution centre before arriving on the shelves of supermarkets and shops. Today, a 125cl bottle of Lambrini will set you back around £3, so it remains one of the cheapest alcoholic beverages you can buy.
What are your memories of the Lambrini factory in Huyton? Let us know in the comments section below.
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