As the festive season arrives and Padstow begins to glow with Christmas magic, we’re delighted to welcome one of Cornwall’s most celebrated makers to this year’s Christmas Fayre: Tarquin Leadbetter, the founder and master distiller behind Tarquin’s Gin and the Southwestern Distillery.
Tarquin’s, your Cornish Gin brand, has become a household name across the UK. What still feels uniquely Cornish about your gin today?
Our distillery is still in exactly the same place I first started – in an old cow shed on a hilltop just outside Padstow, overlooking the Wild Cornish Coast. We still make gin the same way: small batches, copper pot stills, and a predominantly Cornish team. And every single Tarquin’s bottle is still hand-waxed and stamped before leaving Distillery HQ, making each one unique.
Do you have any holiday traditions at the distillery that bring a little mischief or magic to the season?
SeaDog Negroni: favourite way to warm up after a long day in the Distillery.
The Padstow Christmas Fayre is all about local artisans and celebrating Cornwall’s rich food and drink community. What can visitors look forward to tasting from you this year?
My top 5 for Padstow Christmas Fayre would be:
You juggle the roles of founder, distiller, and flavour experimenter. What’s the part of your job that still thrills you every day?
Experimenting with new flavours. We’re on a mission to become the world’s most innovative distillery, and I love working with our team on small-batch experiments. There’s nothing quite like that moment when you taste something for the first time and know you’ve created something special.
Many people discover your spirits while celebrating something special. What does it mean to craft drinks that become part of people’s memories?
It’s incredibly humbling. Tarquin’s has become woven into people’s Cornish holiday memories – sundowners overlooking Padstow harbour, beach picnics, sandy walks along the South West Coast Path. When someone tells me our gin reminds them of their happiest moments in Cornwall, that’s when I know we’re doing something right. We’re not just making spirits; we’re bottling up a little slice of Cornish sunshine.
Sustainability is a growing focus in food and drink. How do you weave environmental responsibility into your production and packaging?
It’s at the heart of everything we do. Our distillery runs on 100% renewable wind energy, we have a zero-waste-to-landfill policy, and all our packaging is 100% plastic-free. We also regularly donate to three charities close to our hearts: Surfers Against Sewage, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and Beach Guardians.
If someone is trying Tarquin’s for the very first time at the Fayre, what’s the perfect serve to win them over?
Our Mexican Gin neat is 10/10. Or a classic Tarquin’s & Tonic – always.
Cornwall has a strong community spirit. How has that community shaped the distillery’s growth and identity?
We are Cornish and proudly so. I don’t think Tarquin’s Gin would have ever grown as quickly as it did (especially in our first few precarious years) without the buy-in and support from the local community who fiercely championed Tarquin’s Gin, well before craft gin was a thing. Our first order was from the Gurnard’s Head on 30th July 2013.
What’s your favourite Christmas cocktail?
This year it’s a Tinner Bros Old Fashioned made with our Miner’s Reserve Whisky. Rich caramel and vanilla notes from the whisky, balanced with a hint of orange and warming spice from the bitters. It’s smooth, warming, and perfect for those long winter evenings by the fire.
What excites you most about the future of Southwestern Distillery as you look ahead to the new year?
We launched Tinner Bros Whisky Co in March this year, inspired by the legend of two Cornish brothers from the 1800s who spent their days mining tin in darkness and their nights distilling whisky. The reaction so far has been brilliant! We’ve got some exciting plans for the brand next summer that I can’t wait to share. It’s been incredible watching people connect with the story and the liquid itself.
New for 2025 Padstow Christmas Fayre has partnered with Tarquin’s to create a limited edition Gin – head to our shop to get yourself a bottle.
