Dryad Gin launches with aim of bringing community together

Dryad Gin launched at Broomfield Village Hall, located between Taunton and Bridgwater, with a ‘gin blessing’ ceremony featuring a local singer and artists.  

Its creator, Becky Wright, hopes the new product and ‘Dryad Inn’ pop-up pub sessions will help combat loneliness and isolation in her community.

Becky, founder of New Leaf Workplace Wellbeing, said: “I’ve always wanted to run a business that solves social problems and, where I live, one of our social problems is loneliness.

“We live in the Quantocks. It’s very beautiful up here, but our pubs are closing quite rapidly.

“I kept thinking, ‘What if I could do something that could also help solve a problem?’”

After considering her options, Becky trained as a gin distiller and then started to experiment with botanicals and flavours using a small copper still.

Songwriter Jon Guard (right) behind the bar with Alex at the launch of Dryad Gin. Picture: Tom Leaman (Image: Tom Leaman)

“That was a revelation to me,” she said.

“Making gin is a really beautiful creative process because you’re playing with botanicals.

“And then I started trying it out with friends and family and neighbours. They got quite excited and said, ‘This is really good’.

“I went into production in August, which is when we made the first 600 bottles.

“It’s been a very creative process. I thought it would be really nice to get lots of local artists involved.”

Becky Wright with a bottle of Dryad Gin at the pop-up ‘Dryad Inn’. Picture: Tom Leaman (Image: Tom Leaman)

The gin's branding features artwork that tells a story about the Quantocks featuring a dryad (a spirit that lives in trees in the form of a young woman) and a centaur.

It also includes a soaring blackbird that represents Becky’s late mother, Sheila, whose memory Dryad Gin is dedicated to.

“We wanted to tell a story of the Quantocks because we’ve got the most beautiful oak trees,” said Becky.

“My friend Jon Guard has written a beautiful song that tells the story of the gin. The gin is made with oak, which is very unusual. That’s what makes it stand out.

“We used 12 botanicals, of which oak has been the main ingredient throughout.”

The product launched on Friday, September 16 at the ‘Dryad Inn’ – the third pop-up pub event held at the village hall.

Dryad Gin contains 12 botanicals and its recipe was created by Becky. Picture: Aisling Magill (Image: Aisling Magill)

The volunteer-run pop-up featured a live performance of the Dryad Gin song by Jon, who helped out behind the bar, and a cocktail of the month, Lady’s Edge, named after a local place.

Jon said: “We’ve done two others and built up to this night and the release of the gin, and it’s been great.

“People have loved it and come back, which is good, and it’s something for the village and the community. We’ve been very lucky with the weather, as well.”

Broomfield Village Hall, where Dryad Gin was launched on Friday. Picture: Tom Leaman (Image: Tom Leaman)

The launch of Dryad Gin is Becky's first experience of selling a product rather than a service.

The gin can be purchased online in 70cl or 50ml bottles. Wooden Dryad Gin-branded coasters, chopping boards, and towels are also available.

“It feels quite exciting and it’s nice to launch it in the pub, because then it’s with local people and I want to honour them in some way, which is why we’re doing a gin blessing,” she said.

“I’m not the first gin distiller in Somerset – there are many of us, and we’re all very different – and I suppose this gin is feeding the pub, and the pub is feeding a social cause. In my head, I can see the full circle there of how it solves a social problem.

“I like the idea that this inspires people to think about their next chapter and think about what they can do to help solve a social problem.”

For more information about Dryad Gin and upcoming ‘Dryad Inn’ events, visit dryadgin.co.uk.