April 2022

13 Buckden Roundabout April 2022 Support Buckden Businesses Saragusta Spirits Company Continuing our occasional series “ Support Buckden Business- es ”, we spoke to Alison and James Fedorowicz, to find out about their Buckden - based Saragusta Spirits Company. Alison and James had always had an idea that they might start their own business at some time. Coronavirus turned out to be the catalyst to begin their new venture. Lockdown severely curtailed James ’ and Alison ’ s existing ca- reers – James is an airline pilot, and Alison an events organiser. They suddenly found themselves with the time and resources on their hands and they put their plan into action. As Alison put it, it “ felt like the stars were aligned ”. From developing the concept to having a ready product took about 3 months, and they launched just before Christmas 2020. The company name, Saragusta, is linked to their first product, Knot Garden Gin. The Knot Garden at Buckden Towers is of course associated with Katherine of Aragon. Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon was known as Saragusta under the rule of the Moors. Alison and James asked a group of friends to choose from a list of possible names, and Saragusta Spirits Company was born. Development of the company design was all - important. You might be able to spot that the eye - catching company logo is based on one of the geometrically planted beds in the Knot Garden at the Towers. Alison chose elegantly - shaped bottles, which unfortunately don ’ t fit into a labelling machine so all labelling is done carefully by hand. The three labels on each bottle were designed to complement the shape. Alison and James share tasks according to their strengths, with James negotiating the business side, finances, tax and so on (the boring bits according to Alison), and Alison the social, de- sign, events and creative side, but creation of recipes is a 100% shared effort. How are new spirits created? Alison and James experiment using their own small traditional copper still – the copper is important for the development of the flavour. They distill small amounts using different botanicals, then leave them for a week to allow the flavours to mellow before tasting. Alison and James invite friends to take part in blind - tasting and offer feedback. They would never market a product that they do not enjoy themselves. All gins must contain juniper, as that is the flavour that defines gin, but beyond that almost anything can be used to flavour gin, including ants apparently, although Alison and James haven ’ t gone that far. The botanicals in Knot Garden Gin are inspired by the Knot Garden itself, with pomegranate to repre- sent Katherine of Aragon, as well as persimmon, almond, man- darin, apple and sweet briar rose leaves (Alison and James forage the sweet briar rose from the hedgerows around Buck- den). Many botanicals are seasonal so have to be collected and frozen until they are needed. Once they settle on a new recipe, James spends time away at a distillery with a much larger copper still and a bottling plant, producing the volume batch. They are planning many different types of gin and other spirits and ordering new equipment to develop the business. A spe- cial edition for Christmas 2021 sold out quickly, and a limited edition for the Queen ’ s Platinum Jubilee is a work in progress. Saragusta Spirits products are available at a number of local pubs and outlets, as well as online. The company offers contin- uing support to outlets, including how to best serve the gin, suggestions for cocktails, and so on. In return, the outlets are good ambassadors for the products, recommending upcoming events and helping Alison and James to grow the business. Alison and James also sell at local events, of course, and are looking forward to seeing everyone in 2022 at: • Buckden Yard Sale – 29th May (they will offer tasters, bottles to buy and takeaway drinks) • Bedfordshire Gin Festival – 25th June • Kimbolton Country Fayre – 10th July • Artisan Market & Open Day, Buckden Towers – Sunday 25th September Alison and James would like to say a huge thank you for all the support they have received from the people of Buckden. They are very proud of what they have achieved and look forward to offering more products soon – watch this space! www.saragusta.com