News / Drink
Turning mixing drinks from a hobby into a business
Sam Espensen once had almost 100 Kilner jars in the cupboard under the stairs at her home in St George as she experimented and perfected alcohol recipes for friends.
She has now turned her hobby into a serious business with the launch of Espensen Spirit including two of her original recipes, pink grapefruit and raspberry vodka, and rhubarb and custard vodka.
Espensen Spirit – founded by Sam and her business partner Phil Gillies (above left with Sam and Shecky the dog) – has a range of flavoured vodkas, gins and whiskies.
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Launch products also include blueberry gin and raspberry gin, with all of the drinks made using fresh fruit and base alcohol from Langley’s in Hampshire.
Donations from the sale of every bottle from 3cl to 50cl will be made to different local charities, including the homeless charity Caring in Bristol – particularly close to Sam’s heart as she had a period where she slept rough in her teens.
Sam said: “The reason I have chosen to include my name in the brand is that for years I was ashamed of it because of my upbringing. But I have now decided to embrace it and be proud of my ‘Espensen Spirit’, as that is what has helped me get through tough times.”
Espensen Spirit is for sale online via www.espensenspirit.com and is also stocked at Independent Spirit in Bath.
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