This Advent, Ludlow Distillery is launching two new spirits, Cloister Garden Gin and Herefordshire Royal Cider Cask – First Release Single Malt, both of which have their roots firmly embedded in Hereford Cathedral.
Shaun Ward, the founder of Ludlow Distillery and husband of the cathedral’s assistant director of music Peter Dyke, has spent most of his adult life living in the precinct of Hereford Cathedral. Earlier this year, the idea of Cloister Garden Gin was formed as a way to both celebrate the botanical history of the wonderful gardens which are nestled in the cloisters and support the cathedral with its ongoing fundraising programme.
Using his own experiences of walking through the cloisters in the early morning, Shaun was inspired by the plants which are grown and tended by the dedicated team of volunteers who care for the gardens. Beginning with a base of bay, fig leaves and mulberry, he then added elements of rose geranium, cassia, sweet oranges and the warmth of frankincense and myrrh to create a distinctive and aromatic gin. Cloister Garden Gin will be available to purchase via the Cathedral Shop from Thursday 20 November.
Whilst researching the history of the cathedral gardens with the assistance of the library and archive team, Shaun discovered a connection with The Herefordshire Pomona. The Herefordshire Pomona, a catalogue of the apples and pears grown throughout the county, was penned in 1885 by Dr Henry Graves Bull – another neighbour of the cathedral who resided at Harley Court. This discovery has led to the development of Herefordshire Royal Cider Cask – First Release, a single malt which has been finished in the casks from Tom Oliver’s Royal Cider, itself inspired by the apples recorded in the Pomona. This is believed to be the first English cathedral whisky created in partnership with an English distillery. Due to the exclusive nature of the product, Herefordshire Royal Cider Cask – First Release is only available to purchase directly from Ludlow Distillery.
Shaun Ward, Master Distiller, Ludlow Distillery said: “Cloister Garden Gin is deeply personal for me – I made my very first bottle of gin in my kitchen in the Cathedral Close nearly a decade ago. To now create a spirit inspired by the gardens outside my own front door feels incredibly special. And discovering the connection between our whisky and the Herefordshire Pomona with the Library team has been a moment of real serendipity – it ties the distillery even more closely to this extraordinary place.”
The Very Revd Sarah Brown, Dean of Hereford said: “Hereford Cathedral has always been a place where heritage, creativity, and community come together. Cloister Garden Gin captures the tranquillity and beauty of our gardens, while the Royal Cider Cask whisky opens a new way of sharing the story of the Pomona, one of our many treasures in the cathedral’s library collections. We’d like to thank Shaun for his creativity in bringing together these two special drinks which will help to fundraise for the cathedral and support our ongoing projects.”
Cloister Garden Gin, available as 50cl (£34.99) and 5cl Bottles (£6.50), will be available in person from the Cathedral Shop and online from ludlowdistillery.co.uk from Thursday 20 November. Herefordshire Royal Cider Cask – First Release Single Malt (£75) will be available for pre-order from Ludlow Distillery from Thursday 20 November for delivery in early December. A donation will be made to Hereford Cathedral (Registered Charity Number 1205397) from each bottle sold.
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Main image: Shaun Ward Dean of Hereford and Tom Oliver in the Cloisters of Hereford Cathedral
Supplied by Hereford Cathedral