Waitrose debuts gin and vodka made from its own crops

Waitrose has launched Leckford Single Estate Gin and Leckford Single Estate Vodka, claimed to be the first spirits made from crops grown on a UK supermarket’s own farm.

Both spirits are made from regeneratively farmed grain grown in a single field at Waitrose Farm at Leckford in Hampshire, harvested this July.

Some 30,000 bottles of the products have landed in over 200 Waitrose stores nationwide (rsp: £25/70cl).

They carry Waitrose’s Championing Regenerative Farming logo, signifying that the wheat used in their production was grown using regenerative practices. The wheat was subsequently distilled into gin and vodka by Ramsbury Distillery using renewable energy.

Single Estate Gin takes inspiration from the wild plants growing at the Leckford Estate, with botanicals including juniper, sweet orange, lemon and cinnamon. Meanwhile, Single Estate Gin is distilled four times “for a smooth texture with notes of caramel and vanilla”, according to Waitrose.

“We’ve grown wheat for baking at Leckford for more than 20 years, but this is the first time we’ve grown it for spirits,” said Andrew Hoad, director of the Leckford Estate and Farming for Nature at Waitrose. “Our commitment to regenerative farming reflects the belief that producing high-quality food and caring for the environment go hand in hand, and these spirits are a taste of exactly that.”

Nik Fordham, master distiller and general manager at Ramsbury, added: “Distilling grain grown on a single farm gives us an incredible level of connection to the raw material and the land it comes from. Working with the team at Leckford, we were able to select wheat varieties specifically for their suitability for distilling, considering how their characteristics would influence the flavour, texture and quality of the finished spirits.

“The choice of grain is fundamental to what we make, and being involved from the field through to distillation allows us to understand and celebrate that journey. It’s a great example of what can be achieved when farming and distilling expertise come together, creating spirits with a genuine sense of place and a clear connection to the land.”

Waitrose has farmed to regenerative principles at its Leckford Estate since 2020, and its Leckford range now comprises 17 products, including bread, flour, oil and honey.

In 2023, the retailer launched its own English sparkling wine with vines grown on the estate.