Yorkshire's farm distillery celebrates regenerative farming with first whisky at Waitrose

The team at Yorkshire's first single malt whisky distilleryhas created a unique single malt whisky to spotlight their regenerative farming practices. This whisky will be exclusively available at Waitrose in the UK, the first time the distillery has worked with a national supermarket.

Hunmanbyfarm-based Spirit of Yorkshire Distilleryhas launched Filey Bay Nurture, the first in a series of ‘Regenerative Editions' single malt whiskies, in 197 Waitrose stores this week, including York, Leeds, Sheffield, Harrogate, Otley and Hull.

Described as ‘soft, fruity and down to earth', Filey Bay Nurture is a marriage of ex-bourbon and ex-red wine casks that celebrates the distillery's farming heritage and regenerative farming practices.

Spirit of Yorkshire co-founder and third-generation farmer Tom Mellor said: "Farming is about achieving a balance. If we take out more than we put back in, future generations will pay the price.

"The Filey Bay Regenerative Editions tell the story of why we farm the way we do and shine a light on our dedication to sustainable agriculture. Filey Bay Nurture focuses on the soil - We're passionate about nurturing the health of our soil through biodiversity, protecting our climate and water resources, minimising soil disturbance, and maintaining the land for future generations.

"Truly, traceable, from field to bottle with 100% homegrown barley and farm-sourced water, Filey Bay Nurture is a delicious reflection of the rich, healthyland that nurtured the barley it was made from.

"We're delighted to be working with Waitrose, not only for the first time but with a whisky that celebrates both the way we farm and also farming itself."

Waitrose spirits buyer John Vine said: "At Waitrose, we always strive to show the utmost respect for nature, animals and the talented people who make and supply our products, and now we're going one step further with our Farming for Nature initiative, which supports our farmers to embrace nature-friendly practices. 

"Filey Bay Nurture, and the Spirit of Yorkshire's approach to field to bottle whisky, fits perfectly with our drive towards regenerative farming and our desire to offer our customers sustainable food and drink that has been produced with nature in mind."

Filey Bay Nurture, 46.5% vol, is available from selected Waitrose stores throughout the UK, Jersey and Guernsey and online atwww.waitrose.com.It costs £60 for a 70cl bottle.

Spirit of Yorkshire is one of only a few distilleriesaround the worldthat use 100% homegrown, regeneratively farmed barley to produce its single malt whisky.

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Photo: Spirit of Yorkshire distillery co-founders David Thompson and Tom Mellor on the distillery farm at Hunmanby Grange David Thompson and Tom Mellor

For more information or to arrange an interview withDavid Thompson,please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on:

Direct line:01430 871360

Mobile:07971 961574

Email:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk

Notes to editors

1.      Filey Bay Nurture brings together the team's skills as farmers (since 1945), brewers (since 2003) and distillers (since 2016). For more information aboutSpirit of Yorkshire Distillery, please visithttps://www.spiritofyorkshire.com/
 

2.      Nurture focuses on the health of the distillery farm's soil and how the team enhance that through the way they farm, following the five principles of regenerative agriculture. They keep soil structures intact by using minimum cultivation, they're improving earthworm numbers by leaving organic matter on the ground, they're bringing livestock (natural weed and pest suppressers) back to the fields over winter to trample that organic matter down, and they use cover crops like clover, phacelia and radishes to aerate the soil with tap roots and sequester nutrients and carbon into the soil. For more information about Spirit of Yorkshire's regenerative farming, please visithttps://www.spiritofyorkshire.com/farm/regenerative-farming/

3.      For more information about Waitrose wines and spirits, please visithttps://www.waitrose.com/

4.      For more information about the Waitrose Farming for Nature initiative, please visithttps://www.waitrose.com/ecom/content/sustainability/farming-for-nature