Taste the Tradition: A Must-Visit for Whisky Lovers at an Anglo-Saxon Distillery!
Come join me as I share a few hidden secrets in my Northumberland series.
This time we head to an unsuspecting tiny village, called Wooler and we learned about one family’s mission to gain recognition for this small, but proud place.
Eileen Ferguson, the co-founder of Ad Gefrin distillery, opened their doors in March 2023. Their aim was to commemorate and exhibit the unique heritage and produce of Northumberland. To reawaken the Northumbrian tradition for whisky distilling that had become dormant for over 200 years.
Hear more from Eileen Ferguson, the co-founder, in the video below.
The location for this distillery could not have been placed anywhere better. The Cheviots hills are in their back garden and provide the purest of water. It’s actually brought up from a borehole beneath the ground. The malting is grown locally. Simpsons Malt - a fifth generation malt company - is less than 30 minutes away by road. You can even see some of the farmers' fields from the windows of the distillery, while you are touring.
The barley is sourced from Berwick and is actually one of the largest suppliers of barley to our neighbour, Scotland. That’s right - the single malt whiskey distilleries source their high quality barley from the north of England. What’s more interesting is Ad Gefrin’s dedication to exploring heritage barleys, and producing this as a way to reflect the barley used in the Anglo-Saxon times.
Hear the story of this distillery by booking a tour and tasting session. That’s what my family and I did over the Christmas break. The tours are open all-year round and with us visiting during the Christmas period, the distillery was not in operation. But it did mean we could get closer to the machines as they were not running. Whenever you choose to visit, you will enjoy the in-depth knowledge the tour guides have of the process. My family and I took a million photos and our guide was so patient with us and let us capture every moment, without any rushing or fussing.
The tasting portion was sublime. We sat down in a visual art piece. The walls moved and waved beautiful digital landscape paintings, showcasing the four seasons of Northumbria. The musical score was produced by none other than Kathryn Tickell. If you are unfamiliar with her, Kathryn is a renowned musician of Northumbrian smallpipes and the fiddle. Fancy hearing traditional English folk music? Be sure to check out her live dates and experience the unique and authentic folk music of Northumbria.
The tasting experience includes three delightful options: the signature Single Malt - Tácnbora, the Gin - Thirlings, and the Irish Cream Liqueur - Flýte. You can also find all these spirits for sale at the gift shop. I have to say, among the three, the Flýte is absolutely the most delightful drink I've ever had. The combination of Tácnbora and double cream creates a rich flavour that's perfect for sipping over ice or mixing into your coffee. We took a bottle home, and it was gone in just a couple of days! What sets this apart from something like Baileys is that you can genuinely taste the whisky, unlike Baileys, which lacks real whisky in its ingredients. The Flýte is incredibly smooth, and the notes of vanilla and caramel add a lovely sweetness, and as I mentioned, it won't last long in your home!
Ad Gefrin is special because it looks to not only source its ingredients locally and support local farmers, but it is a testament to uplifting a community that is brimmed with proud people. People who have lived in Wooler for generations and remain to uphold its hard working background. The museum offers insight to the Anglo-Saxon heritage that exists in this county. Gefrin was once a royal palace and home to the Anglo-Saxon kings and queens in the 7th century. Marvel at the artefacts discovered that highlights the intricate craftsmanship of peoples long gone, but not forgotten. And after an exciting day of touring, why not stop by the bistro and sample the delicious, seasonal menus.
We sadly didn’t have a chance to explore the village, but our tour guide recommended the ice cream shop across the road. Yes, it was the middle of winter, but the Doddington Milk Bar was open and how could I turn down the opportunity to taste ice cream made with local produce! I chose vanilla because I really wanted to taste the milk and cream and boy, it did not disappoint. It was the best way to close our day. We’ll be visiting again and next time, we will explore the village and the Cheviot hills.
*Please drink responsibly
