First English Cathedral Whisky

Hereford Cathedral is getting into the spirit of Christmas collaborating with the Ludlow Distillery on a new gin – and the first English Cathedral whisky.

The Ludlow Distillery has launched two new spirits, Cloister Garden Gin and Herefordshire Royal Cider Cask – First Release Single Malt – both of which have been inspired by the cathedral and its gardens.

First English Cathedral Whisky – Hereford Cathedral

Shaun Ward, the founder of Ludlow Distillery and husband of the cathedral’s assistant director of music Peter Dyke, has spent most of his adult life living in the precinct of Hereford Cathedral and taken inspiration from the cathedral gardens.

Cloister Garden Gin celebrates the botanical history of the gardens and has as its base, bay, fig leaves and mulberry with notes of rose geranium, cassia, sweet oranges and the warmth of frankincense and myrrh.

Working with the cathedral archives Library team, Shaun discovered a connection with The Herefordshire Pomona, a catalogue of the apples and pears grown throughout the county that was penned in 1885 by Dr Henry Graves Bull –a neighbour of the cathedral.

This led to the development of the Herefordshire Royal Cider Cask – First Release, a single malt which has been finished in the casks from Tom Oliver’s Royal Cider, itself inspired by the apples recorded in the Pomona.

This is believed to be the first English cathedral whisky created in partnership with an English distillery. Due to the exclusive nature of the product, Herefordshire Royal Cider Cask – First Release is only available to purchase directly from Ludlow Distillery.

Shaun Ward, Master Distiller, Ludlow Distillery said:

“Cloister Garden Gin is deeply personal for me – I made my very first bottle of gin in my kitchen in the Cathedral Close nearly a decade ago. 

‘So to now create a spirit inspired by the gardens outside my own front door feels incredibly special. 

‘And discovering the connection between our whisky and the Herefordshire Pomona with the Library team has been a moment of real serendipity – it ties the distillery even more closely to this extraordinary place.”

The Very Revd Sarah Brown, Dean of Hereford said:

“Hereford Cathedral has always been a place where heritage, creativity, and community come together. Cloister Garden Gin captures the tranquillity and beauty of our gardens, while the Royal Cider Cask whisky opens a new way of sharing the story of the Pomona, one of our many treasures in the cathedral’s library collections. 

‘We’d like to thank Shaun for his creativity in bringing together these two special drinks which will help to fundraise for the cathedral and support our ongoing projects.”

Cloister Garden Gin, available as 50cl (£34.99) and 5cl Bottles (£6.50), will be available in person from the Cathedral Shop and online here.

Herefordshire Royal Cider Cask – First Release Single Malt (£75) will be available for pre-order from Ludlow Distillery from Thursday 20 November for delivery in early December.

A donation will be made to Hereford Cathedral from each bottle sold.