Creators of Rugby Gin launch special ‘Wasps’ edition to honour local team

The creators of a new gin based on the history behind the game of Rugby have launched Rugby Gin, a special edition to honour their local team.

The new ‘Wasps’ gin pays tribute to the premiership team whose home ground in Coventry is just a stone’s throw from the distillery behind the drink.

The tipple is the 1823 London Dry Gin created by Rugby Distillery - which earlier this year launched Rugby Gin that draws its influences from the game and the town where it was born.

Richard Wilson and sister Emma founded Rugby Distillery in memory of their brother Ian, who passed away in May 2020.

Based in Harborough Magna in Rugby, the distillery produces a range of three gins and is already producing nearly 200 bottles every day, with pubs and bars across the region already stocking it.

Their 1867 ‘Wasps Gin’ - paying tribute to the year the club was formed and complete with labels sporting the team’s home and away colours - is already proving a hit with rugby fans after being launched at the club’s home ground, the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Richard, a keen rugby fan who played for most of his life, said the Wasps gin had already gone down well with players and fans.

“I have played rugby all my life and still love watching the sport, so for our gin to draw on the history behind the game and the heritage of the town it was born in makes perfect sense. Rugby Gin has been a huge hit with the local community, as well as with rugby fans in general, but the Wasps Gin really draws on links to the closest team to us.

“We’re delighted that Wasps Rugby have come on board to stock our gin and we had a great time showing it off in the fanzone at the weekend, as well as selling it to people who share the same passions as us - for rugby and for gin. It’s safe to say it got a good reception from some of the players, who we hope will become regular customers.”

Rugby Distillery uses British-sourced ingredients and botanicals to create unique flavours with a superior quality and gins that have their own unique story related to the history of Rugby.

The 1823 London Dry gin, the company’s flagship gin, pays tribute to the year William Webb Ellis famously picked up a football and ran with it at Rugby School, creating the game of Rugby. The 1878 Navy Strength gin marks the year of the first Army-Navy rugby match, and a Rhubarb gin also offers an alternative for those who prefer a fruitier flavour.