Harrogate gin firm cheers on the Lions with deal to supply team during test

Gin and Tonic might not be the kind of drink one normally associates with rugby union but one of Yorkshire's artisan drinks makers is looking to change that perception.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Apr 2017, 16:37 BST
Updated 9th May 2017, 18:44 BST
British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton during the British and Irish Lions Squad Announcement = Adam Davy/PA WireBritish & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton during the British and Irish Lions Squad Announcement = Adam Davy/PA Wire
British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton during the British and Irish Lions Squad Announcement = Adam Davy/PA Wire

Harrogate spirits brand Slingsby has signed an agreement with the British & Irish Lions to become the exclusive gin and vodka supplier to this summer’s tour of New Zealand.

The deal is the gin maker’s biggest partnership to date, and will involve the brand’s owner, Spirit of Harrogate, supporting the Lions - captained by Sam Warburton - by providing Slingsby gin and vodka across all of the official Lions tour events both before the party leaves the Northern Hemisphere and whilst they are travelling throughout New Zealand in June and July.

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Only, 2017 bottles will be produced and shall available to purchase directly from ww.wslingsby.co.uk from May 28 just ahead of the tour party’s departure.

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)

In addition, each player shall receive a personalised commemorative bottle of the Tour Edition gin after the third test.

Marcus Black, co-founder and joint managing director at Spirit of Harrogate, said: “The partnership is a perfect fit for Slingsby.

“Like the Lions, we seek to do things differently and look to follow a similar ethos to the Lions. We are extremely proud of who we are but we also celebrate and respect others that we play against.”

Launched by Mr Black and Mike Carthy, Slingsby Gin is named after William Slingsby, who, in 1571, discovered the unique natural spring water from the Tewit Well in Harrogate.

Related topics:HarrogateYorkshireNew Zealand