Our Story
Our journey into gin crafting began with the vitally important tradition of our parents enjoying a post-milking gin and tonic! In 2019, we embraced this inspiration and launched our farm-to-bottle gin, striving to capture the heritage of our farm in every bottle. We take pride in overseeing every stage of the process, developing, harvesting, distilling, bottling, and labelling, all done right here on our farm.
Meet Rob and Lizzie
Rob and Lizzie both grew up in dairy farming families, so farming has always been part of their lives. Today they live and work on Lizzie’s family farm in Inglewhite, Lancashire, where Wild Fox Distillery sits right in the heart of the farm.
Wild Fox Distillery is a small batch gin distillery based on a working dairy farm in Lancashire, producing craft gin using botanicals grown and foraged around the farm.
Alongside running the distillery, Rob works with his brother in law John and Lizzie’s parents Ann and Andrew, milking a herd of around 500 Holstein cows. Rob has always had a passion for agricultural engineering, which now proves extremely useful when maintaining and running their copper stills, Ivy & Kin.
Lizzie’s background is in food development, where she spent years creating and refining new products. That experience, combined with the fruits and botanicals growing around the farm, inspired the idea to create their own gin using what the land naturally provides.
Wild Fox Distillery is very much a family run business, with everyone lending a hand between the farm and the gin. Their daughters Annie and Betsy are already enthusiastic helpers and proud advocates for British farming. When it comes to picking smaller fruits in the orchard, little hands definitely make light work.
Today visitors can also experience Wild Fox Distillery through our popular gin tasting evenings, held right here on the farm in Lancashire.
How It Started
Before starting the distillery, Lizzie worked within the dairy industry in new product development. Her career was built around creating products that responded to changing consumer tastes while keeping real, high quality ingredients at the heart of every idea.
On the farm, a gin and tonic had always been the traditional after milking drink. Long before gin became fashionable or there were hundreds of brands to choose from, it was simply a well made spirit enjoyed with tonic, ice and a slice.
Lizzie’s love for a good gin and tonic eventually sparked the idea to create their own gin using ingredients grown right on the farm. With an orchard full of fruit and hedgerows packed with wild botanicals, the idea of creating a Lancashire gin distillery producing small batch craft gin quickly began to take shape.
After plenty of trials, recipe development and building the distillery itself, Wild Fox Distillery was ready to launch in April 2019.
Choosing the name came naturally. Inspired by their two fiery red haired daughters Annie and Betsy, affectionately known as their own little wild foxes, the name reflects both their family and their countryside surroundings. In many ways, without those two arriving and changing Lizzie’s outlook on life, Wild Fox Gin may never have been born.
Each Wild Fox gin is distilled in small batches on their copper still Ivy, allowing them to carefully craft and refine every bottle produced here on the farm in Lancashire.
2018
The idea was born! Rob & lizzie went full pelt in to applying for all the licences needed and with that the hunt for the still commenced. Rob took to researching different still models and meeting up with other craft distillers to see how they all worked. Meanwhile Lizzie started exploring what the farm naturally had growing within the fields and hedgerows and combined with fruits and leaves from the orchard. She then purchased a small table top still, named Willow after their family home, and began experimenting. 47 recipes later they were happy they had a product worth sharing with world. Rob had found different elements of what he wanted and put an order in for a 50L copper column still.
2019
With all licences granted and the still manufacturing being near to completion, it was time to think of a name, fitting for such beauty. Over a G&T in the garden, looking out over the view of the farm at sunset and surrounded by the Ivy tree’s silhouette it was an easy choice. ‘Ivy’ it was. Installed here on the farm in March 2018 and the first run of our recipe ‘Ivy’s Signature’ completed it was time to launch.
On the 5th April, Ivy’s Signature farm to bottle Gin was released on social media to the wider world. With an overwhelming response and brilliant reviews coming in it gave Lizzie the boost to start developing a second Gin. Ivy’s Orchard, a seasonal summer release using all the fruits that grow in the farm orchard was launched in July 2019. A special ‘desert’ Gin with absolutely nothing artificial or any added sugars. This was a hit at the summer agricultural shows. Three batches later the fruit was gone and with that Ivys orchard was too. On to the next launch… A Christmas Gin had been in the boil since the ideas began in 2018. With an abundance of damsons on the farm it was sure to feature as botanical in it. Wanting to stay clear of the usual syrupy damson gins already on the market, Lizzie wanted to capture the true fruit plummy flavour of the great British damson and make a true Christmas spirit! The Holly and the Ivy; spiced damson & Aga dried clementine was launched in late September 2019. No ordinary Gin, full of flavour and absolutely delicious served as a hot toddy it was a true seasonal success and all 6 batches sold out by late November 2019.
2020
Throughout the first 8 months we were getting asked at all our events if we were going to launch a pink Gin, the answer was yes, but… to be fitting with all our other releases it had to be completely natural and the colour was taking some time to perfect! Blushing Vixen, Rhubarb and elderflower Gin was finally ready and launched on the 30th January 2020. What a start to the new year! With a natural blushing hue derived from beetroot skin and a nostalgic stewed rhubarb flavour with a subtle floral tang, she was definitely not seasonal and here to stay as a sister Gin to Ivy’s Signature. A new Gin and big plans to start the year off. Fast outgrowing the micro distillery, it was time to go bigger and with that plans to put up a new ‘cow shed’ to house our new distillery were submitted to our local council & within a few weeks passed. Thrilled to be able to move on to the next chapter of our business we were eager to start but then Covid-19 hit and with that building work stopped. Looking to start again autumn 2020 and be in for Christmas to welcome our customers to get the full wild fox experience…
2021
Early in January 2021 we took delivery of our second still ‘Kin’ enabling our gin production to increase with the growing demand. The year started with some great achievements, In February we won the Rural Business Award which then lead to us being interviewed & featured on local news, Granada Reports and in March, Heart Radio which was very exiting!
Behind the scenes there was allot going on, and on 14th April we opened our newly built distillery to the public, enabling us to welcome visitors from far and wide to see exactly how our farm gins are made. The accolades continued with Blushing Vixen winning Spirit Business Ultra Premium Gold on 1st July. Opening the distillery was proving to be a great success and in early July we hosted our first private event…the first if many!
On 21st July, for its third year, we launched the first of our seasonal releases, Ivy’s Orchard, and later in the year on 3rd September back for the third year also was our Christmas spirit, The Holly & The Ivy.
We featured in further publications, talking all things gin & farming and a particularly special one was a feature in The Farmers Garden
As we approached the end of the year, we went out with a bang, launching ‘Its A Rum Do’ on bonfire night, to coincide with the firey spices you will find in our cask aged gin. The first of its kind and a real maverick gin, combining a rich spice and quirky caramel that comes from dandelion heads grown naturally on the farm, needless to say our cask 1 release was a sell out!
2022
Early 2022 brought about new ventures for us at the distillery, in February we worked on our first ‘Own Label’ collaboration with a local business, Everything Retreat, to create a bespoke gin for them and their guests.
Like most of the nation, we were enthralled in the celebrations of the Queens Jubilee in May and to mark the occasion we launched our Signature Jubilee Gin, releasing only 70 bottles to mark such an occasion.
The awards continued in 2022, with us winning serveral on 1st July, It’s A Rum Do winning, Fine Food Digest Editor’s Choice award & Spirit Business Masters Silver. Twelve Bore also scooping Gold at Spirit Business Masters Award
July also brought with it our ever popular Ivy’s Orchard for the fourth year, similarly late in the year for our Christmas cheer gin, The Holly and The Ivy, in October.
In November we were thrilled to be approached by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, a charity who like ourselves champion the British countryside for public benefit. Along with a personalised Twelve Bore gin, the partnership led to us attending their annual ball at The London Museum on 8th November.
2023
After a steady start to the year, we were decorated again with even more awards! This time for our hero gin Ivy’s Signature & Blushing Vixen, both winning Bronze awards at the IWSC
In March, as the country prepared for a new King, we launched our very special commemorative Coronation Gin, ‘Fit For A King’, inspired by King Charle’s love for British Horticulture, this celebratory recipe reflects the botanicals and fruits grown in an English country garden, creating. very Happy & Glorious English Dry Gin.
In the distillery, as we welcomed new and interesting guests, we were visited by a Sunday times Journalist, who embarked on a gin tasting journey with us, we were delighted to read his thoughts published on 1st April in the Sunday Times, QUOTE – “I’ve drunk enough gin to feature in a Hogarth print and rarely tasted any with such an ampleness of flavour. Should anyone offer you a bottle of Ivy’s Signature, grab it and don’t give it back”
We are always on a quest to do more and more ourselves right here in our distillery and so in April, we invested in a state-of-the-art label printer, allowing us to bring label production in-house. This not only improved our lead times but also allowed us to offer better pricing to our private label customers, strengthening our business relationships.
In July, we had the privilege of being featured on BBC Northwest Tonight with Steve Saul, celebrating the best of Lancashire and the “Lancashire on a Plate” movement. The positive response from viewers highlighted the growing enthusiasm for eating locally and supporting small-batch producers.
In September, we proudly launched our 7th recipe, Mane Event, at the Blenheim International Horse Trials. This Mediterranean-inspired creation featuring ruby grapefruit, basil, mint, and rosemary was an overwhelming success, marking a fantastic end to the summer season.
We’re excited about the future and look forward to continuing to create delicious, innovative products for our customers. Thank you for being a part of our journey!
2024
At Wild Fox Distillery, we’re all about quality, innovation, and supporting local communities. Our journey continues to be an exciting one, with new milestones and growth every step of the way.
We kicked off 2024 with a bang by launching Food Truck Fridays. Aimed at bringing more people to our distillery, these special evenings allow our guests to enjoy delicious food truck offerings, paired with our signature G&Ts and gin cocktails. Held a couple of Friday evenings each month, it’s a fun, relaxed way to spend time with friends and enjoy our creations.
We were delighted as we proudly retained our 5-star hygiene rating following a thorough inspection. This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality at our distillery.
In March, we were thrilled to receive nominations for Family Business of the Year in two categories – an incredible honour that made us feel so proud of what we’ve built together. April was a particularly exciting month for us. We celebrated our 5th anniversary, marking five fantastic years of crafting spirits in Lancashire. During this month, we also launched a UK-first: a fat-washed premium gin, developed in collaboration with Warrendale Wagyu Beef Company. This unique creation was something we were super proud to bring to the market. We also earned the ‘Actually Made In’ verification, ensuring our customers can confidently choose authentic, locally made products. To top it off, we introduced our 100% sustainable and recyclable mini gift box, aligning with our commitment to the environment.
June brought amazing news as our Mediterranean-inspired Mane Event gin won a Gold Medal at the prestigious IWSC awards. Out of only 10 Gold medals awarded in England, we were over the moon to be one of the recipients – a true milestone for our distillery.
In July, we took a significant step forward, seeing our products stocked in the renowned Westmorland Family Shops, well-known for their luxury service stations in Tebay and Gloucester. We also participated in National Distillery Day, opening our doors to the public for a day of tastings and distillery insights. Later in the month, we celebrated our 5th year at the National Game Fair, a fantastic few days where we got to showcase our gin and celebrate the beauty of the British countryside.
August was a month filled with community spirit as we supported Farm24 for the second year, joining British farmers and foodies in celebrating the incredible work they do. It was also the month of our first Summer Shin Dig, a huge success with sunshine, dancing, and, of course, plenty of gin. Additionally, we created a new batch of Shepherd’s Tipple, a gin designed to pair perfectly with roast lamb, especially for our customer, The Lambing Shed in Knutsford.
September saw us introduce Gin Tasting Thursday evenings, offering gin enthusiasts a chance to explore and enjoy our spirits in a fun and relaxed setting. We also joined the TikTok trend, with Rob becoming a star on the platform. At the end of the month, we returned to the Blenheim International Horse Trials for our 5th consecutive year, a prestigious event that allowed us to connect with so many wonderful people in the equestrian community.
In November, we crafted a special cocktail for Lancashire Day – a local twist on the classic French 75, celebrating everything we love about our home county.
Finally, December was a whirlwind, as we saw our busiest and most successful Christmas gift guide campaign yet. Corporate gifting was at an all-time high, and we were beyond grateful for the incredible support from our loyal customers, helping us finish the year on a high.
2025
2025 was another full and memorable year at Wild Fox Distillery. We began the year working on some brilliant private label projects, including Full Pull Gin for North West Tractor Pulling and a special Blushing Gin created with Rumenco to support the Pink Ribbon Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness. To launch it, we invited women to share their breast cancer stories, with one winning a bottle of the gin – a campaign that meant a great deal to us.
In March we hosted our very first St Patrick’s Day Shin Dig, and the distillery was absolutely buzzing. With music from The Craic Inn and plenty of our own crowd of leprechauns dancing the night away, it was the perfect start to the year’s social season. Throughout the year we also shared plenty of gin cocktail inspiration on our socials, making 2025 a bit of a “year of the cocktails”.
April marked four years since we built the distillery, which we celebrated with a tribute video looking back at the build and everything that’s happened since. That same month we hosted one of our most memorable private bookings yet – a hen party who arrived in a convoy of tractors before enjoying a gin tasting and food here at the distillery.
May and June brought a bumper crop of elderflowers, giving us a fantastic harvest for the next batches of Blushing Vixen Gin. There were so many elderflowers that we even created a special elderflower cocktail to celebrate the season. June also saw the release of our Ivy’s Orchard Summer Edition Gin, this year bursting with blackcurrants and quickly becoming the perfect summer G&T.
Summer show season started in July as we headed back to The National Game Fair at Ragley Hall for the fifth time, as well as enjoying another brilliant day at one of our favourite local events, Goosnargh Farmers Market.
August was particularly special. We took part in 24 Hours in British Farming, which resulted in the distillery being featured on BBC News. It was also the month our very own Grandad celebrated his 90th birthday here at the distillery, proudly dressed head to toe in Wild Fox merch – a familiar and much-loved face to many of our visitors. We also welcomed a new local stockist, Lancaster Barn, a beautiful nearby retreat where guests can now enjoy a Wild Fox G&T during their stay.
September saw the children heading back to school and our busiest gin tasting evening to date, as well as our return to Blenheim Palace Horse Trials for the fifth time, where the European Championships were hosted this year.
Then, before we knew it, the festive season arrived. Our Christmas campaign brought festive gin tastings, plenty of shin digs and a host of corporate Christmas parties, keeping the distillery buzzing right up until we closed the doors on 23 December after a record-breaking Food Truck Tuesday Christmas special.
Another fantastic year on the farm, and plenty more adventures still to come.