Auckland Palace toasts new gin deal

A County Durham distillery has announced a new collaboration with Auckland Palace using ingredients from its 17th century walled garden.

WL Distillery will produce a Lemon Balm Gin, which is infused with lemon balm from the Palace’s newly restored gardens on the palace grounds. 

Auckland Palace, previously known as Auckland Castle, is the historic residence of the Prince Bishops of Durham and is part of The Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland, a multi-site cultural destination that also includes the Faith Museum, the Spanish Gallery and Mining Art Gallery.

The collaboration is the perfect pairing for WL Distillery, a North East-based gin distillery, which combines its passion for gin and the great outdoors by creating authentic tasting gins made with handpicked ingredients. 

Scott Wilson-Laing, founder and managing director of WL Distillery, said: “Auckland Palace is such a historic landmark in County Durham and we are delighted to announce this collaboration.

“Ingredients have always taken centre stage at WL Distillery and each bottle is infused with nature using handpicked and measured botanicals to ensure the freshest, and most authentic taste. 

“Working with Auckland Palace is a perfect pairing for our brand ethos, and it’s a very special concept to infuse the lemon balm from the 17th century walled garden into our distillery process.”

Andy Nesbitt, head curator of parks, gardens and landscapes at The Auckland Project, added: “The Lemon Balm used in the new Lemon Balm Gin are grown in the heart of Auckland Palace’s newly renovated gardens. 

“One of the goals when transforming the gardens was to ensure as much is harvested and used throughout the community – we have produce and herbs sent to Park Head Hotel and Bishop’s Kitchen, veg boxes donated to communities and most recently the Lemon Balm being used by WL Distillery to make the ultimate North East gin.”

WL Distillery have established themselves as a key player in the UK gin market, both regionally and nationally following their debut to the market in 2020, with accolades including gold at The Gin Masters, listed in the London Spirits Top 100 spirits, through to making Vogues ‘Hot List’, GQ’s ‘Cocktail Club’ and being featured at London’s world-famous Science Museum.

Scott added: "Vibrant creations and continuous innovations’ are at the heart of his distillery, based near Houghton-le-Spring, and this collaboration heralds the second exciting brand partnership in recent weeks."

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