MPs are drinking Nottinghamshire's Ruddy Fine Gin in a bar at the Houses of Parliament after a cheeky request paid off. When Rushcliffe MP Ruth Edwards visited the distillery last year, founder Rory Thorpe asked if she could get the gin into the House of Commons.
"In all honesty, we had no expectation that it would happen. At the time she said it was certainly worth a go and after a very pleasant visit talking all things gin and bees (her husband is a fellow beekeeper) she left, distillery life carried on and we assumed it had all been forgotten," said Ruddington-based Rory, who runs Ruddy Fine Gin with his partner Cheryl Stretton.
"Then out of the blue a few weeks ago we received an email link from her office showing Ruth in the House of Commons putting the question to the then Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg, requesting his assistance in getting our delicious Ruddy Fine Gin into the Estate. After stating that he was 'all in favour of Ruddy Fine Gin' and no doubt a great deal of wrangling behind the scenes, we were invited to the Strangers' Bar at the House of Commons to celebrate our Ruddy Fine Gin being made available to MPs from all parties to enjoy in their downtime."
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Rory and Cheryl, who began making gin in their kitchen at home as a hobby, have made history as it's the first guest gin to be served in the House of Commons. "We could not be more proud. We hope very much that our gin is enjoyed by MPs from all over the country. What a great way to showcase just one of the fantastic artisan products Nottinghamshire has to offer,” added Rory.
Ruddy Fine Gin produces London Dry Gin and Summer Berries pink gin which sell from £15.50 a bottle online. There's also a limited edition Lockdown Gin, made using crab apples, Bramley apples, bay leaves, nettle and raspberry leaves and lavender, all foraged from within the village when their regular ingredients became scarce during multiple lockdowns. It was shortlisted for The Grocer New Product Awards 2021.
