Member Article

New Salford drinks company named Ten Locks

Nusa Cana, Applewood Gin and West Cork Irish Whiskey unveiled as first portfolio brands

A new Salford-based premium drinks company has announced its name to be Ten Locks, paying homage to the location of sister company, Kingsland Drinks, which is based on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, next to the lock at Irlam.

The newly formed drinks company - officially announced last month - focuses on spirits and aims to curate, create and craft a portfolio of around 20 premium drink brands for the on and off trade.

Nusa Cana Rum, applewood Gin and West Cork Irish Whiskey are the first brands to be welcomed into what will be a diverse portfolio of purpose-led brands, which all share Ten Locks’ progressive, ethical and sustainable ethos with a focus on innovation.

A refreshing new take on rum, Nusa Cana(40% abv) embodies the vibrant culture of Bali while bringing back to life the forgotten story of Indonesian Rum. Drawing on flavour profiles from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, it uses nutmeg and clove combined with ginger, coffee, cacao and pineapple to create a delicate, warm rum with a brilliantly balanced finish.

All Nusa Cana labels are made from recycled sugar cane pulp – a bi-product from the production process, giving them a lower production footprint and playing into a circular economy.

Another brand to join the portfolio is West Cork Irish Whiskey, produced by West Cork Distillers. Made in an independently-owned distillery, the whiskey is distilled, matured and bottled on-site in West Cork and sells in over 70 countries worldwide. Each bottle is triple distilled, non-filtered and carefully crafted using the finest local ingredients.

Owned and created by three childhood friends, much of the distillery was hand-built as needed as the business expanded, with its ‘Rocket’ reported to be ‘the fastest still in the world’ at the time. Its mission is to grow globally but maintain its West Cork Heritage by supporting local jobs and the Irish economy.

Ten Locks will import three of its award-winning Whiskies to begin with, including the original Bourbon Cask (40% abv), the award-winning Black Cask (40% abv)and the patented Bog Oak Charred Cask (43% abv)– all of which provide a true taste of beautiful West Cork.

Completing the first tranche of brands in the Ten Locks portfolio is applewoodGin (43% abv). This uniquely Australian gin nurtures the relationship between native culture, flora and land to become the ‘realisation of Australian culture’. A botanical-rich flavour profile of rare desert limes, native wattle seed and aromatic peppermint gum is nestled among 20 fresh and sustainably farmed ingredients, in a lovingly handcrafted gin made in harmony with the sites and soils from which it was born.

Owners Brendan and Laura seek to add value to native ingredients, supporting farmers who opt for more sustainable farming methods, crops and orchards. They value those who wish to listen and learn from indigenous culture and understand the importance of working in harmony with nature. A certified B Corporation, the liquid is created in the most sustainable and non-impactful way possible.

Becky Davies, Chief Lock Keeper at Ten Locks, says: “Through these first spirits, the portfolio is starting to speak for itself; brands of quality, distinction and purpose. They bring new tastes, fresh perspectives and true sense of excitement to the UK drinks industry.

“With their clear propositions we know each brand has a commercially relevant place in the market, and will quench the thirst of consumers seeking brands that demonstrate authenticity, credibility and quality, while taking measures to ensure and improve elements of sustainability and ethical practices.

“We are hugely excited to welcome these brands to the UK drinks trade, and we can’t wait to unveil the rest of the portfolio, which is shaping up to be something very special.”

Aptly named Ten Locks, the company draws inspiration from The Manchester Ship Canal; its Barton Swing Aqueduct became the first swing aqueduct in the world - with several sections requiring careful work by hand – and to this day remains a feat of innovative engineering and community teamwork.

Davies continues: “Much like the expertise, dedication to innovation and determination required to build the Manchester Ship Canal, we’re moving forward with energy, pace and a desire to create something unrivalled among our competitor set. From product development and brand building to industry-leading consumer and market insights, we’re assembling a portfolio of drinks that will add value across a range of drinks categories and, ultimately, be profitable partners to our customers.”

Ten Locks will continue to develop its portfolio of premium branded drinks in the coming months, comprising agency brands and a significant range of new and emerging brands that have been crafted with the utmost care.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Francesca Gaffey .