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16
Sept 2023
Yemi's Food Stories: the Yorkshire distillery that makes vodka from apples
Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef competition. Every Saturday Yemi will be writing on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food and sharing cooking tips– please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.
Walking in to Ellers Farm Distillery immediately brought up memories of growing up in Nigeria, as the smell of fermentation reminded me of the Palm wine my grandfather tapped on his farm. It was a happy memory and a great way to start my educational journey into the craft of vodka, gin and liqueur making.
It is one of ten distilleries that make their own alcohol out of 450 distilleries in the UK. The state-of-the-art distillery purposely built near York to be carbon neutral, is one of the largest in the country and its vision is to create incredible drinks with a positive impact on people and the planet.
This ethos shines through as Tabitha, the head of sustainability, was keen to show me the natural habitat they are creating to support nature in and around their orchard.
Yemi and Tabitha (R)
Ellers Farm’s ingredient of choice is apple, and they were the first to make vodka from the fruit - rather than the traditional potatoes or grains.
Despite the UK being home to 2,600 variations of apple, our country is at risk of losing them as orchards are being re-purposed. For this reason, the distillery is on a mission to preserve the UK’s apple heritage by planting over 28 types of apple in their orchard – with plans for even more.
It is clear the team has given the end products a lot of thought, driven by the farm’s powerful and clear vision to make the world’s best spirits in the most sustainable way.
Great quality produce, copper-finished equipment for a smoother finish and the most-awarded distiller in the world, Jamie Baggott, have all contributed to Ellers Farm’s success so far.
The exceptional front of house team are just as passionate about educating customers on how to use distillery’s products, while creating cocktails with flair and pizzaz.
Fun facts from Jamie included ‘Dutch courage’ coming from British soldiers being given a pint of 60% alcohol to help them fight in the war, and London dry gin is a way of distilling gin - not a brand name.
In addition, he explained that whisky is aged for 3 years, with the 3% lost to evaporation described as the ‘angel’s share’, and the proportion absorbed by the cask is the ‘devil’s benefits’. The rest is for us mortals to enjoy.
I also learnt triple distillation is a minimum requirement, but Ellers Farm distillery don't do minimum requirements – they go above and beyond with the distillation process…
I was very pleased to discover Jamie uses Rounton’s coffee in the coffee liqueur, as well rare spices, including Vietnamese wild forest or lai chau pepper, herbs and botanicals used in their flavoured gins.
The distillery has created a range of sublime products – which it is extremely proud of - backed by world-class craftsmanship and minimal footprint and waste thanks to the sustainable practices.
More importantly, its award-winning products are delicious and easy to drink.
Their Dutch Barn Orchard Vodka and Espresso Vodka tasted amazing, and the wide range of liqueurs including Elderflower & Elderberry and Pineapple and Grapefruit, were all fantastic.
I was drawn to the labelling of their Sloe Gin which tasted beautiful, with a jammy sweetness that gives way to complex flavours of piney juniper, cardamom, and a warming ginger - finished with luscious notes of plums, raisins, and a moreish acidic tang.
You can also find their products in Morrisons, ASDA and on Amazon, and can even sign up to be one of the first to own a cask of their whisky.
The company is open to collaboration with chefs, as they have a versatile space, which is perfect for pop up events, where food can be paired with their drinks.
Here is a deliciously beautiful recipe for you to try - please drink responsibly.
Hero Serve
2 shots of Dutch Barn Orchard Vodka
2 dashes of orange bitters
Loads of ice
Slice of red grapefruit
Sprig of rosemary
Next week, I will bring you some highlights and recipes from the RHS Festival of flavours.
Read more:
- Yemi’s Food Stories: A ‘sweet day’ at Bettys Cookery School
- Yemi’s Food Stories: Memorable weddings with Blossom Tree Cake Company
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