A Guernsey based distillery has launched three new ‘House Pour’ spirits which it says offer better value for money than many imported ranges.
The new House Pour range comprises a London Dry Gin, a Vodka, and a Vanilla Vodka, which have all been distilled and bottled by the Channel Islands Liquor Co.
It has a base at the Fish Quay in Guernsey in the repurposed Vivier Bunker as well as a distillery in Jersey.
Luke Wheadon is Managing Director of the Channel Island Liquor Co.
He said recent changes to duties levied on small distillers have been encouraging for his business.
“The house poor is a new range of spirits that we have just put into the market that is a handcrafted, locally produced product range that is affordable. It’s in that value for money part of the market, and something that we’re immensely proud of, to get that quality into the market at that price.”
The House Pour range will be available on shop shelves for a cheaper price than some of the ‘big name’ branded competitors said Mr Wheadon.
But how has a local, small scale distiller managed to produce a product that’s been designed to go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in the industry?
Mr Wheadon said, in part, that is thanks to a change made in Guernsey’s 2025 Budget.
“There’s two things there. Firstly, as of the end of last year we, as a small distiller, are treated slightly differently now when it comes to duty rates. We now get, or we benefit from, a duty relief in the same way as small brewers and small cider makers have benefited for the last 20 or so years.
“What we’re now able to therefore do is compete on price against off-island imported products – the big, mass produced products. We’re able to put this handcrafted quality into the market and be able to compete on price, which is absolutely key to the success of the product.”
The second part of that explanation is down to experience, and time.
“I launched Wheadon’s Gin into the market in 2016, and so in that time, all of the experience that I’ve gained from production has allowed me to refine our process, to be able to create a way in which we manufacture to reduce the cost, and consequently, is the reason why we can get sort of this House Pour range into the market at this reasonable sort of price.
“At one time, I was probably producing like 20 bottles a week. Everything was made by hand, and to be honest with you, the process has never really changed from that original ethos. I guess it’s all the experience I’ve learned through Wheadon’s Gin, Indica Rum and Pink Granite, has really taken us to this place of House Pour, where we can just refine our production methods.
“That’s really the key to it. It’s a refinement of those methods that means we can produce quicker, that we can produce on a bigger volume, and make it more affordable for the consumer.”
The House Pour range has been on sale at pubs, bars, and nightclubs for around a year and it’s now being sold in the retail market too with the Channel Islands Coop among the first to sell it.
For the Channel Islands Liquor Co., there’s even more creative developments on the horizon too.
“I’ve got an idea, which I’ll be rolling out in about three months time,” hinted Mr Wheadon.
“This is going to be a low alcohol gin product, and something which I think will be really cool. I’m really excited about it, but I just need a bit of time to be able to get on top of that one.”
You can find out more on the Channel Islands Liquor Company’s website HERE.