What did you do before launching Cascave Gin? The three of us bring a range of experiences that contribute uniquely to the gin business. Julie runs the home farm with her husband Keri, managing an organic beef and sheep enterprise. They’ve also diversified the farm to include tourism accommodations for guests wanting to explore the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park. Heidi, with a background in client relations in London, now supports both the tourism business at the farm and the gin business. Naomi, trained as a rural surveyor and with experience in planning policy, now deals with the daily operations of the gin business. We believe that these diverse backgrounds and skills help shape the unique character and success of Cascave Gin. What made you decide to create Cascave Gin, and what's the inspiration behind it? Cascave Gin was born when the three of us moved back closer to the home farm and bonded over our love for gin, enjoying many evenings in the garden with G&Ts. We wanted to create a unique and inspiring Welsh gin that brings us together and showcases the best features and characteristics of growing up in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
What is the meaning and story behind the Cascave Gin brand name? Choosing our brand name was one of the most challenging aspects of starting our business, taking us nearly a year to decide. The breakthrough came one morning while walking around our valley. Julie suggested "Cascave," a play on the words "water cascading through the caves." As soon as she said it, we all fell in love with the name — it was perfect. Thus, Cascave Gin was born. Can you tell us more about the distillery you work with? We currently contract distill with Hensol Castle Distillery in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, which utilises a copper still. We chose contract distilling as the safest way to start our business and establish Cascave Gin. Our ultimate goal is to build our own distillery at our home farm in the Brecon Beacons, where visitors can experience the distillery firsthand. Can you tell us more about the distillation process and botanicals? We have carefully selected botanicals inspired by the Brecon Beacons, aiming to include every botanical that the water touches before reaching the source in Dan yr Ogof Caves, where we hand-collect the mineral-rich water. This includes bilberry, angelica root, meadowsweet, sunflower root, and orris root, among others. Additionally, we have incorporated citrus botanicals into our gins, purely from our love of citrusy flavours.
Can you tell us more about your Cave Aged Gin? What makes Cascave really unique is our Cave Aged Gin which is matured in port-seasoned oak barrels for 180 days within Dan yr Ogof Caves, enhancing its depth of flavour and unique Welsh character. We also use the mineral-rich cave water to cut back all our gins, adding a distinctive depth of flavour that truly embodies the essence of Wales. Can gin lovers visit you and what can they experience? Although we don’t have a distillery (yet), we do welcome visitors at our small Cascave shop at our home farm in the Brecon Beacons. Here, you can sample our gins, meet the founders and the team behind Cascave Gin, and witness first-hand the beauty and inspiration behind our gin. We also have holiday accommodation at the farm. For larger groups either staying with us or within the Brecon Beacons, we offer a gin tasting experience package. The best day out includes visiting the National Showcaves of Wales to see our barrels located in Dan yr Ogof Caves, then driving up to visit us at the farm (less than 10 minutes away) to sample our gins and hear the story of Cascave Gin.
What is your ambition for Cascave Gin in the years to come? Our ambition for Cascave Gin is to establish our very own distillery within the Brecon Beacons. We aim to continue showcasing our award-winning gins and their unique story throughout the UK and potentially abroad and become Wales’ best premium gin. What are your favourite ways to drink your gins?
Desert Island Gins: Which 3 gins would you take with you and why?
So as there are three of us in Cascave, I think it’s best to give you our own individual favourites:
What's next for you and your gin/distillery - any exciting plans? We have recently filmed an exciting feature for a TV programme set to air at the beginning of 2025, which is fantastic news for us. Additionally, we've been shortlisted for several awards and are hopeful for some celebrations by the end of 2024. We're always on the lookout for new and exciting opportunities and collaborations to help showcase Cascave Gin and continue sharing our story. You Might Also Like...
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