The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced the award of a license to Harrogate Tipple, a small, traditional British distillery, to create a selection of RHS-branded spirits including premium gin, whisky and rum. 

The core products will be ready for RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May. The bottle and labels are still at the design stage but will use imagery that, like the spirits, captures and combines Harrogate Tipple’s artisan ideals with the inspirational aims of the gardening charity. 

The range will then be available at retail from the beginning of June, selling at several physical and online outlets that include spirit retailers, garden centers and independent wine stores. It will also be sold via the Harrogate Tipple and RHS websites and at RHS Gardens. 

For this range the RHS is also planning to launch limited edition flavors of the various spirits, making use of botanical ingredients from each of the RHS gardens and taking inspiration from RHS Flower Shows. For this, it will call on the expertise of Harrogate Tipple’s master distiller, Tom Nichol. 

“We were thrilled to be asked to develop a series of spirits that reflected the excellence and love of British gardens that is the hallmark of the RHS,” says Steven Green, founder, chief tipple taster, Harrogate Tipple. “It has been a delight to work with the U.K.’s favorite gardening charity and a strong supporter of British craft-company-produced food and drink.” 

“Our intention was partnering with a distillery that combined a true artisan approach with the creativity and excellence that would make RHS gin, whisky and rum stand out,” says Cathy Snow, manager, licensing, RHS. “Not an easy task, but in Harrogate Tipple we have found the ideal partner for a range of spirits that are both memorable and delicious.” 

Harrogate Tipple and the RHS were brought together by licensing agent Asgard Media.