Shopkeeper Profile-Still Life Gin
Continuing our celebration of the incredible array of edible and quaffable products on offer on our doorstep, we recently got chatting to our newest Market Maker shopkeepers Sam and Geoff from Still Life Gin…
Tell us a bit about your own background, what led you to set up shop in Frome?
We’re two engineers with an alcohol inclination! We wanted to bring some of our scientific background to the distilling industry and after falling in love with Frome’s independent culture when we moved here from Australia 5 years ago, it seemed the perfect place to start a new venture.
What are the benefits of having a bricks and mortar shop, rather than retailing purely online or through pop-ups?
Our core goal is to provide the highest quality gin, tailored to each individual palate. We’re not just selling a product, it’s the whole experience. As such, it is far more suited to a bricks and mortar laboratory. We don’t want to churn out a high-volume gin – we want to meet people and work with them to create their own unique masterpieces.
What’s your favourite gin currently available in your shop?
Exposure is the best (though currently the only) gin we’re selling. This being said, we’re planning to release a winter gin in time for Christmas which we’re very excited about…
What’s next for Still Life Gin?
Well, we’ve just formally launched our lab on Catherine Hill. It’s been a long time coming but we’ve finally opened our doors for blending experiences! We’ve distilled 30 different botanicals and are ready to share our experience – be it for a wedding, birthday or just a celebration of gin – come grab a chemistry set and create something incredible!
And finally, some quick fire questions….
Favourite book?
Hitch-hikers guide to the galaxy – our gin is precisely 42% because it is the answer to life, the universe and everything. Even if we’re not sure what the question is…
Describe your dream day off.
We’re both sports lovers and have gotten into the village cricket lifestyle – so I would say watching England (win) at Lords with a bottle of gin would be up there!
What are you listening to right now?
The Beatles (I’m still reminiscing about Sir Paul McCartney in Frome and wishing I was lucky enough to get tickets)
What are you cooking/ eating / drinking at the moment?
I’m a much better distiller than cook, so gin is probably the safest thing for me to consume…
You can find Still Life Gin at 26 Catherine Hill, Frome, BA11 1BY, open from 10am – 3pm Tues-Sat, and on Sundays for The Frome Independent, or their online shop is open all the time!
