Olympic legend Sir Matthew Pinsent opens Gin Experience in Harrogate

Four-time Olympic Gold medal winner, Sir Matthew Pinsent, joined the founders of Spirit of Harrogate to celebrate the official opening of their Gin Experience just days before jetting to Rio.
Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent and joint managing directors at Slingsby Gin Marcus Black and Mike Carthy. (Picture by Mike Leng)Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent and joint managing directors at Slingsby Gin Marcus Black and Mike Carthy. (Picture by Mike Leng)
Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent and joint managing directors at Slingsby Gin Marcus Black and Mike Carthy. (Picture by Mike Leng)

The Spirit of Harrogate opened on Montpellier Parade last November, and the formal launch of the Gin Experience comes after an extremely successful period for the Harrogate based business.

Since the doors opened at its prime Harrogate town centre location, over 2,500 customers have visited the two floor retail and gin experience.

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British rowing legend - and Yorkshire-schooled - Matthew Pinsent said: “I’ve been a fan of Slingsby a while, I’m a big fan of gins and British gins.

"Slingsby are invigorating some of the history of the area and targeting a new audience, which I think is fascinating."

Sir Matthew Pinsent was not the only medal-winner in attendance as the site is also the home of Slingsby Artisan Gin, which has been recognised by a number of well-respected industry bodies in recent months.

The Harrogate inspired gin won a silver medal in the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition in April.

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The Spirit Business Gin Masters saw Slingsby earn a trio of gold medals for its London Dry and Rhubarb gins in July and to cap off an impressive month, it bagged three more silver awards at The International Wine and Spirit Competition in London and a Great Taste Award.

Spirit of Harrogate co-founder and managing director, Marcus Black, said: “We’re thrilled to have such an honoured guest to formally open our Gin Experience and equally delighted with our recent flurry of award wins.

"We’d like to thank all of our partners and staff who have supported us on our journey over the past 12 months, without whom we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

Championing local partnerships, Slingsby’s award-winning products are the result of the quality of the botanicals and the Harrogate aquifer water used in its small-batch production.

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Of the 24 botanicals used in their gins, half are grown in the kitchen garden of the nearby Rudding Park Hotel and Taylor’s of Harrogate supply the Green Tea and Jasmine used.

Spirit of Harrogate has recently launched open sessions for its Gin Experiences, taking place on alternate Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

The Gin Experience offers its customers over 120 gins and 60 different tonics drawn from all around the world.

To book a place at a Gin Experience or an Open Session, email [email protected] or visit www.wslingsby.co.uk/experience/