Welcome to our ‘window box’ within Dorset Food and Drink, where we endeavour to bring our art of crafting exceptional organic spirits to life. Discover who we are, what sets us apart, and the motivation and boundless passion that fuels our craft.

Our certified organic micro-distillery is situated in picturesque Christchurch. Artisan tradition permeates every step of our spirit-making process. Our flagship product, Pothecary Gin ‘Original’, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence. It has gained international recognition, earning prestigious awards that highlight its exceptional quality and unique character.

Behind our creations is the founder and distiller Martin Jennings, a true foodie, who, having studied at catering college, has dedicated over 35 years to the food and drinks industry. We believe that Martin’s commitment to creating premium spirits that are more intense, made with high quality organic ingredients and produced with respect for the environment shines through.

Within our micro-distillery, traditional Copper Pot Stills take centre stage, being the foundation for our distinctive gins. But we don’t stop there, our production method is not ‘London Dry’ but ‘British Blended’. It is this very process that allows us to craft spirits that burst with the intense flavours and captivating aromas Martin envisioned. Each botanical is carefully distilled separately, capturing its unique character and unlocking its individual hidden depths.
Then, like an alchemist blending precious elements, our distiller Martin artfully combines these distillates, adding pure New Forest Spring Water to achieve the desired alcohol volume and perfect balance of flavours. We believe that our blended method of production yields optimum quality, incomparable aromas and flavours, and remarkable complexity.

Our passion for a handcrafted approach extends into our micro-distillery garden and beyond. We wild forage for some of our botanicals in Dorset, we are also on a journey to achieve certified organic status for our micro-distillery garden, the smallest plot in the country, with the esteemed Biodynamic Association UK. We are a quarter of the way through our two-year conversion period.
This commitment to sustainability and purity will enable us to hand grow and hand pick some of our own certified organic botanicals. It’s a labour of love, rooted in a deep respect for the environment, and a desire to create high quality, organic, handcrafted drinks that celebrate artisan craft.

Crafted for Carole and Terry from Corfe Castle Village Stores and inspired by the enchanting landscape of Dorset’s Corfe Castle, Cromwell’s Ruin gin pays homage to the local community and their beloved store. Cromwell’s Ruin was aptly named by Carole and Terry, the owners of Corfe Castle Village Stores. To further capture the essence of Corfe Castle Village, Carole and Terry personally wild forage for the finest Elderflower and Wild-Chamomile from the picturesque surroundings.

The fittingly named Cromwell’s Ruin, picture of Corfe Castle on the label, and wild foraged botanicals from the surrounding area exquisitely capture the enchanting surroundings of Corfe Village. The harmonious blend of botanicals caresses your palate with a sweet meadow character that evokes the beautiful landscape of Corfe Village.

‘The Spirit of Dorset’ is a ‘Water-of-Life’ (eau-de-vie) that is a celebration of two Dorset organic artisan drink producers, Dorset Nectar and us.
Crafted from the finest organic Dabinett Cider Apples, carefully sourced as the raw ingredient, the apples undergo a meticulous fermentation process by Dorset Nectar of Bridport, resulting in a remarkable cider. But the journey doesn’t stop there. To create our Eau-de-Vie, this cider is double distilled in a traditional Copper Pot Still. This time-consuming yet worthwhile process ensures that every drop of this Water of Life emerges as a beautifully balanced spirit, boasting an exquisite 40% ABV. This is then bottled and labelled by hand, in a square flask-shaped bottle.

The apple tree on the label was drawn by hand by Martin. ‘The Spirit of Dorset’ displays all the Dabinett cider apple character, from the intense sweet and sour apple aromas to the soft, warm, fresh, lively apple palate, that allows the cider apple character to linger. It makes a perfect digestif after a meal, neat with ice or without, and as a mixer in cocktails.

We are excited to share our craft with you and warmly invite you to explore our website and experience the result of artisan distilling through our award-winning spirits, each one handcrafted with a commitment to creating exceptional quality organic spirits that are distinctively different, decidedly smooth, and deliciously moreish.