Medway Soroptimist social committee organised a tour of the local distillery the Copper Rivet. Meeting at McQuires café, we enjoyed a light lunch before heading next door to see the distillery process in action.
Housed inside a listed building, Pumphouse No.5 was built in 1873 and used to play a big role in the history of Chatham Dockyard until it closed in 1984. Our guide explained the ‘grain to glass’ process with a botanicals masterclass and an introduction to the large stills all named after members of the owners family.
The distillery will produce Masthouse, a single malt whisky, Dockyard Gin, Vela Vodka and Son of a Gun – an unaged grain. We tasted a sample of each before enjoying a large G&T with a grapefruit garnish in the bar.