FOOD + DRINK
There ’ s something special brewing …
COPPER RIVET DISTILLERY
TUCKED NEATLY AWAY IN ONE OF THE OLD VICTORIAN PUMP HOUSES IN THE FAMOUS CHATHAM DOCKYARD , THE COPPER RIVET DISTILLERY IS A NEWCOMER TO THE CRAFT DISTILLERY SCENE , BUT ONE THAT LOOKS SET TO LAST . by Lisamarie Lamb
With its small batches of exceptional beers , gins , whiskies and vodkas , all made completely from scratch , this is a different innovation in craft brewing and distilling that works wonderfully well in today ’ s climate – a climate that demands something special every time .
There is something rather exciting about entering the Copper Rivet Distillery . Walking through the doors – newly renovated though they might be – of this old building brings with it a sense of history . It ’ s just there , seeping through the red brickwork , hovering in the air . There is something brewing – literally in this case – behind an imposing door , and it is through that door that any visitor will want to venture . I know I did , with the enticing scents and soft rumblings coming from behind it .
And thankfully , my curiosity was soon to be sated as I was to enjoy ( and enjoy is certainly the word ) a tour of the workings of this new distillery .
The Copper Rivet Distillery is the only distillery in Kent ( and one of only a handful in the UK , in fact ) that does absolutely everything , owner Matthew Russell proudly tells me . And he should be proud . This fact alone makes familyrun Copper Rivet stand out amongst its competitors .
The first item I ’ m shown once I ’ m through that fascinating door is the grain . This is hugely important because without this seemingly small , perhaps even insignificant little thing , there would be no gin , no vodka . Nothing . Most distilleries bypass this part of the process , preferring instead to buy in the base spirits , rather than make them themselves . Since Copper Rivet starts at the very beginning , they are able to pick and choose which grains they take – and they can make sure they use local products too .
The tour followed the process of these grains as they are turned into gin or vodka , and the hops as they are turned into beer . Your tour guide will happily crank open the heavy machinery for you to have a whiff ( don ’ t lean too far in !), and the excitement that comes from the staff as they too get to see what ’ s going on is palpable . They really do love what they do – passion is an oft overused word , but in this case it ’ s spot on .
By the end of the tour you will know how to distil your own spirits , but of course , to do it right – the way Copper Rivet does – you ’ ll also need some of the bespoke machinery and coppers that they have had made specially . One of a kind , these are all part of what makes Copper Rivet tick .
After the tour , it ’ s time to try out some of the product of all this hard work . Small tasters of gin and vodka come with the tour , or you can buy larger measures if you prefer . The gin was my particular favourite , with notes of Earl Grey tea and a citrus tang .
The Copper Rivet Distillery tour is a lovely way to spend an hour or two learning about how we in Kent are now leading the way when it comes to making exceptional spirits .
To book a tour or shop their range of gin , vodka and whisky , visit www . copperrivetdistillery . com
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