Pleasant Land Distillery: Aldington, Kent

Pleasant Land Distillery is a family run craft and contract distillery on a farm in Aldington, Kent, England. It makes gin, vodka and other spirits and works on whisky, and runs on renewable energy.

Who is behind it

Difford's Guide, which spells the name Pleasant Lands Distillery, tells the story of founder Sebastian Barnick. He served 25 years in the Royal Navy as an intelligence officer, was medically discharged in 2015, and then moved into wine and later spirits. He trained at Liberty Wines, learnt distilling in South Africa, and studied through the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.

Difford's reports that the distillery began when his father asked whether he would like to start a family business, and the two set up Pleasant Lands together. The distillery's master distiller is named only as Joe, a chemistry graduate and former distillery manager.

What it does

Difford's says Pleasant Lands specialises in contract work covering fermentation, distillation and maturation, and has the equipment to produce liqueurs, gin, whiskey and eaux-de-vie. Seb Barnick describes the distillery's three pillars as environmental responsibility, industry excellence and doing things properly.

Its own brands include White Cliffs Gin, a maritime inspired London dry gin, and Eve Vodka, which Difford's says is distilled on a farm from fermented apples. The distillery site in Aldington is powered by renewable energy and also offers tours, according to its own pages.

Further reading

Official website: pleasantlanddistillery.com

Sources: Difford's Guide producer story, and the distillery's own website and Instagram. A whisky release was not confirmed in the sources read.