It was last October when Lytham Rotary pushed the boundaries of possibility by creating a Rotary-first purple craft gin, distilled exclusively for them on the South Fylde coast in Lancashire by Sandgrown Spirits.
Purple is the colour of the End Polio Now campaign and Sandgrown Spirits created ‘Passionately Purple’, a magical colour-changing gin, bursting with the flavour of blueberries to raise funds in a unique and enjoyable way.
Now, almost six months later, the 1,000th bottle has been sold and the gin’s popularity does not seem to be diminishing.
“The idea was born as a result of an idea I had and my conversation with Lytham Gin Distillery Sandgrown Spirits in July last year,” explained Herbert Chatters, who has been the motivator behind the project.
“The notion was to increase awareness of the End Polio Now campaign and to capitalise on the popularity of gin – to produce a unique craft gin which was purple in colour, the same as the crocus pins.
“We sampled several gins and chose the one flavoured by blueberries and blackberries and coloured by pea flowers.”
The gin was launched on World Polio Day last October at the iconic Lytham Windmill with comedian Bobby Ball of Canon and Ball fame and who lives in Lytham, toasting the new gin alongside Past RIBI President, Denis Spiller, plus the Mayor and Mayoress of Fylde.
The Passionately Purple gin was launched on World Polio Day.
Herbert said that social media has been a big help in pushing sales of the gin which is distilled in Lytham in batches of 90.
They have also targeted Rotary events around the country which have also found favour with gin-loving Rotarians.
Bottles have been sent to Bill Gates, and the brand has reached beyond the British Isles with sales to Bermuda, America, Canada, Bulgaria, Australia and Portugal.
“We don’t have a target, but sales have gone well and we have had many repeat orders,” added Herbert.
Bottles cost £35 each, plus postage and packing of £5.50. Every bottle sold raises £6.20 towards the End Polio Now campaign.
And every £6.20 raised will attract a further £12.40 from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This is the equivalent of providing potentially life-saving vaccinations for 93 children.
UPDATE – August 2020
Passionately Purple Gin is now coordinated by Salford with Swinton Rotary Club, and orders can be placed by the interactive form on their website.
