Choosing a distillery for my spirits collection was straightforward. I partnered with Hawkridge Distillers in Berkshire because they’re simply the best; one of the UK’s most decorated houses, three-time winners of England’s Best London Dry Gin and World’s Best London Dry at the World Gin Awards, Global Master Vodka producer, and crowned World’s Best Producer at the IWSC in 2025.

The other thing that Hawkridge is absolutely expert in is a dark art known as finishing. Hawkridge only started producing their own whisky in 2023 and this won’t be ready (legally) for another year but what they have mastered is sourcing really lovely English whiskies and turning them into amazing whiskies by finishing them in rare, sought-after casks that impart specific profiles. In fact, they turn them into the Best Whisky in England; my Iron Ridge has just won the largest award a whisky can win, England’s Best Single Malt Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards 2026. As a big gin and whisky fan, working with Hawkridge made perfect sense; I absolutely love their spirits, and they’re great people to boot.

From the start, I wanted to do more than just add a celebrity name to a bottle. My first spirits had to make waves for the right reasons. I expected sceptics, but my goal was to create genuinely exceptional spirits. My inaugural gin was a hands-on project, crafted with my brothers and best friend alongside Hawkridge’s master distillers, James and Phil and tailored to my palate. Some botanicals even come from the back of my house in the Lake District, so every bottle carries a piece of home.

When it comes to whisky, I’m rather particular. To me, whisky is personal. I avoid heavy peat and overpowering smoke, and I prefer my dram approachable rather than cask-strength. I often add a generous cube of ice to open the flavours. Hawkridge share my taste, and our First Reserve, a limited run of just under 2,700 individually numbered bottles, was created to reflect that. It’s an elegant, drinkable whisky, praised by connoisseurs as “excellence in a bottle,” and described by Alain Roux as a genuine session whisky you can enjoy all evening. We sourced a beautiful 12yo unfiltered English whisky, with notes of baked banana and dark treacle and a whisper of smoke, achieved by finishing in rare Jack Daniels casks.

The Second Reserve continues that story: from the same casks but two years younger, revealing fresh, nuanced notes for true enthusiasts. Another limited edition, just under 5,000 bottles, it’s a different expression, velvety smooth yet equally special. If you’re lucky enough to own one, you’ll know it was made with care, taste, and real passion.