Farmers Weekly Awards 2022: Diversification Farmer of the Year

Tim and Tanya Spittle of Black Lion Vodka, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire have won Farmers Weekly’s Diversification Farmer of the Year.

In just a few years after the family farm came out of a long-term tenancy, husband-and-wife team Tim and Tanya Spittle have built a business and a brand to be proud of.

Taking the reins of the 121ha Cotswolds farm near Moreton-in-Marsh, the pair found their way back to Tim’s farming roots when the Covid-19 pandemic forced the closure of their urban-style gym on the farm.  

Recognising the need to establish other income streams on the farm, they used the quiet time during the lockdowns to set the wheels in motion for their latest diversification project – BlackLion Vodka.

See also: FW Awards 2022: Diversification Farmer of Year

A unique product

Made from fermented, triple-distilled sheep’s milk and Cotswold spring water, the unique spirit is the first of its kind to be sold and produced in Europe.

Making the vodka starts on the farm, where Tim and Tanya have been gradually building up their flock numbers, priding themselves on careful and responsible breeding.

Now managing about 600 sheep, they have created a new breed specifically for the milking process.

The “Black Lion” is a cross between the Swiss Valais Blacknose and a local dairy sheep breed, as they found out early on that the Valais Blacknose struggled to produce a high enough milk yield.

Local links

Links to the local farming community are woven throughout the vodka’s production process, which begins with local cheesemaker Stephen Fletcher of Berkswell Cheese.

The Black Lion ewes are milked alongside Stephen’s own flock, and he retains the curds during the cheesemaking process, selling the whey, which is usually a wasted by-product, back to Tim and Tanya.

This sugar-rich whey is then fermented in tanks on the farm to form the foundation of the vodka, before being sent to a local farm-based distiller.

Both Tim and Tanya are heavily involved with the distillation process, working closely with the distillers to create the vodka’s smooth profile and flavour notes.

Sustainability

Growing a business that is future-proof for the next generation requires strong sustainability credentials, and this is something Tim and Tanya are passionate about.

“We wanted to be as sustainable as possible,” says Tanya, who has a background in marketing.

“We have used a by-product to create something super premium, and the result is a small-batch and eco-responsible British dairy product.”

When ordering a bottle of BlackLion Vodka, customers can opt for a packaging-free delivery, so that repeat customers who already have one of the bottle’s luxurious casings can choose to be more environmentally friendly.

Though the recipe and method for making BlackLion Vodka remain a closely guarded secret, Tim and Tanya have shared several ways to enjoy the spirit, with the help of a local mixologist.

They have created a little black book of cocktail recipes with a farming twist, such as the Dirty Sheepdog – a take on the classic espresso martini.

However you try it, Tim and Tanya recommend stuffing the bottle in the freezer and serving it ice cold at -1C, like the temperature in the Swiss mountain origins of the Valais Blacknose.

The other finalists were:

• Kier Petherick, Stowbridge Farm, Cambridgeshire
• Emma Gray and Ewan Irvine, Sheepdog School, Isle of Bute