And while we could offer you a painstakingly stirred Old Fashioned, or a glass of port alongside the cheeseboard, we think there’s also space for an unapologetically sweet liqueur. Now some nearly 120 years later Tom Lester has decided to give it a second life and created a 2020 version of the winter gin liqueur recipe – that so requires every ingredient to be sourced, peeled and squeezed by hand. Then there is the gin, which is procured from the Wood Brothers distillery a premium “farm to bottle” gin and vodka distillery in Oxfordshire made to a tailor made recipe. Many years later, the Reverend’s Great Grandson, Thomas Lester found his own passion for crafting liqueurs after taking inspiration from his honeymoon to the Amalfi coast. He began experimenting at home using locally foraged ingredients and shared the fruits of his labour at family gatherings. During one such event, Thomas’ aunt shared a beaten-up WWI hip flask along with the original recipe for Reverend Hubert’s Winter Gin Liqueur. The Reverend Hubert Bell Lester (1868 -1929) was a charming and caring man who also enjoyed a good party, and in 1904 produced a popular winter gin liqueur that he shared amongst army comrades and the congregation of his local church in Nottinghamshire.

The brief was very much to bring out the cheeky, glint in his eye, friendly, warm personality of Reverend Hubert. Look closely and you can see a halo around only half his head, to signify he was a man of cloth, but who also knew how to have a good time at the same time. With a newfound passion for crafting liqueurs, I was soon eyeing up the magnificent cherry tree in our garden, which had just fruited with a bountiful crop (as opposed to the usual couple of handfuls). I decided to bathe the cherries in various spirits and through experimentation, cherry gin, vodka and brandy were born. They were delicious and perfect for the upcoming winter festive parties and dinners. Let’s face it we all like a little something to aid digestion and So, he did it anyway in secret. Working with like-minded members of his congregation, he started creating recipes and distilling. He would regularly hide his gin still (Gertrude) and relocate his gin making activities to various wooded areas across Yorkshire to hide them from prying eyes. During one of these dinners, my aunt presented me with a beaten-up WWI hip flask with a barely legible label - it contained Reverend Hubert’s Winter Liqueur and a recipe of sorts. Here’s where our story really begins...

Reverend Hubert Winter Details

Each year he would update the recipe based on whichever country he happened to be stationed – be it for his country, or his religious calling. Famously, he was even arrested by the Marshalls and imprisoned for several days, until he agreed to give up his still. He had another old rusty version hidden in an oak tree for just

As well as Master of Malt they have forged close ties with Whisky Exchange, Cambridge Wine, Fortnum & Mason, Noel Young Wines, and most recently, Marks and Spencer, amongst others.Hubert was strong willed and resourceful; despite his family’s objections he gave up all his privileges and chose another way, following his desire to help those less fortunate than himself. All of this took place in October 2019 when it was too late to actually get into trade to hit the winter spirits and liqueur market. We even ground our own spices. It was an incredible number of man hours, and we are still learning how to make it now, still adjusting and adapting.” I began making batches of Reverend Hubert’s Winter Gin Liqueur, which I sold to other parents on the school rugby touch lines and a few local pubs and restaurants. Sales went berserk and word of mouth created interest for weddings, parties and gifts. The momentum meant 4am starts, dozens of kilner jars, bulk buying bottles and Waitrose carrier bags, full of oranges, lemons and gin. It was chaos - but also fantastic fun. I am so proud of what we are doing. It feels like we have created a new category, but then I think there is plenty of room for a category between vermouth and gin. A mixable liqueur that you can use to replace a spirit, a gin in different recipes,” he explains.

Born in England in 1868, Hubert was the son of a wealthy merchant family. After graduating from Cambridge University, he was set to follow in his father’s footsteps working in the family business, living a life of privilege and comfort. Hubert joined the Church locally and as his popularity grew, he became Reverend of Keighley, assembling a large, but also diverse and fragmented congregation of followers. The challenge of uniting this diverse community and raising money to support those in need of help seemed insurmountable.

More Alternatives…

They may not be a mainstay on your bar trolley throughout the year, but as soon as November (...who are we kidding, October) arrives and Bublé makes his long-awaited return, we make a break for the festive liqueurs.