Our Story
Bracknell Forest Spirits Company was started by Vicki, a long time gin fanatic and cocktail enthusiast! With a love of the history of gin (as well as the taste!) Vicki has always enjoyed learning about gin from all over the world and how local history, and local landscapes, influence the spirits produced. Proud to be Bracknell born and bred, Vicki wanted the towns and suburbs of Bracknell and Sandhurst, as well as the surrounding villages and parishes of Crowthorne, Winkfield, Binfield and Warfield, to have their own local gin to be proud of! And Braccan Dry Gin was born! A new age gin using common nettles as a key botanical. Due to be released early July 2025!
Why Common Nettles (stinging nettles)?
It was really important to Vicki that a local gin has local provenance. That's why she wanted to work with a Berkshire distillery and have a product that incorporates a local botanical, that she forages personally.
Residents of Bracknell Forest are proud of their green spaces. Forest and woodlands account for 35% of the towns, villages and parishes. We therefore naturally have an abundance of nettles. The nettles are a crucial part of the eco system. In particular, they provide an important food source for butterfly caterpillars and seed eating birds but, with considerate foraging, there is enough for us and for them.
Currently our nettles are foraged from land at Moss End Garden Village in Warfield, as well as areas belonging to the borough council and also the town council. Permission is always sought and never taken for granted. We adhere to the Foreging Code and agreed quotas from the land owners.
