The Little Gin Company, Stratford-upon-Avon

By Tracey Saunders

Emma Bishop and Nicola Yapp have been trialling gins together for many years, but it wasn’t until 2015 that they decided to create their own mobile bar for their favourite tipple.

Serving a thoughtfully chosen range of gins, mixers and garnishes, their business The Little Gin Company operates from a lovingly converted retro horse trailer. The girls set themselves a budget of £4,000 to launch the business, which included converting the trailer, becoming personal alcohol licence holders, completing a trailer driving test and stock purchases.

For their first outing, Emma and Nicola debuted The Little Gin Company in their home town of Stratford-upon-Avon. By partnering the Scoff Street Food Collective, they joined the street food traders for a Friday night party by the river. The evening was a great success and they haven’t looked back.

Emma and Nicola say: “We want to bring you a unique twist on the classic G&T experience”. Here are some of their favourites:

Cotswold Dry Gin with Pink Grapefruit Juice, Tonic & Slice of Lemon
This London Dry-style gin from Cotswolds Distillery is a blend of its pure wheat spirit, along with nine botanicals. The result is a classic, well-balanced gin with crisp citrus and spice complementing the juniper. Botanicals include Cotswolds lavender, grapefruit, cardamom, bay leaf, lime and black pepper.

Monkey 47 Gin, Tonic & Chunky Orange Garnish
An unusual gin from the Black Forest in Germany, Monkey 47 contains a unique ingredient. No, not that! Cranberries! The 47 comes from the number of botanicals that go into this gin, and the fact it’s bottled at a healthy 47%.

Sir Robin of Locksley Gin, Elderflower Cordial, Tonic & Slice of Lime
This small-batch gin is smooth and delicious, a multi-purpose sipping gin that falls somewhere between a London Dry style and an Old Tom. Sir Robin of Locksley is a blend of traditional botanicals, infused with the more delicate notes of elderflower, dandelion and pink grapefruit.

Sipsmith’s Sloe Gin, Bitter Lemon Tonic & Slice of Lemon
First, Sipsmith distils its award-winning London Dry Gin in its copper still. Then it is left to rest on wild sloeberries, hand-picked in the autumn. The result is subtle, complex and bursting with flavours such as cassis and cherry.

To stay in touch, follow @thelittleginco on Twitter.