Same root, different directions.
It’s taken 8 years of passion, commitment and hard work to bring our vision of soil to spirit to life, and we are proud to be firmly planted at Elsham Wold Distillery, located just a few miles from where our spirit’s main ingredient was first cultivated.
Our team members have been working separately on the creation of a new, premium spirit since 2013 but it wasn’t until three families’ paths crossed in 2018 that the Elsham Wold Distillery became a reality. Since day one, the key to success had been finding the perfect blend, but we hadn’t realised that the blend of people was just as important as the perfect spirit recipe.
Together, we truly believed that locally-produced spirits from natural, raw ingredients could transcend the popular craft market and conquer the premium spirits industry. We set out to prove that quality produce, originating from our own farms across Lincolnshire, could create a premium single-estate potato vodka, from a simple ingredient on our doorstep that we already knew so well. This hands-on, sustainable approach to our spirit has been an important part of our journey, and one that we think can be tasted in every bottle.
Richard Arundel
Richard operates a potato farming business just a few miles from Elsham Wold Distillery. His family has been farming potatoes in Lincolnshire for more than 100 years and while he is committed to honouring his family’s farming legacy, he is excited to begin a new adventure which perfectly captures the combination of heritage and taste for the finer things in life.
Favourite drink
Vodka, lime and soda
Matthew Hamilton
The son of a potato business owner, and armed with a masters degree in molecular microbiology, Matthew’s interest in plant science led him to working in horticultural pathology, before becoming a founder of the Elsham Wold Distillery. Known as ‘Spud’ to his family, Matthew has spent hours creating our perfectly smooth blend – we simply couldn’t do it without him.
Favourite drink
Moscow Mule
Emma Hamilton
Established in the London food and drinks industry, Emma has traded tube journeys for wellington boots on route from soil to spirit. Returning to her roots with new expertise, combined with inherited knowledge of potato farming, Emma has brought the brand to life and is responsible for its visibility in bars and restaurants.
Favourite drink
Straight up, on the rocks (her husband is Polish, after all)
Ben Mordue
Born and raised in Yorkshire, Ben followed in his father’s footsteps with a farming career, starting his own journey with a local farm at the tender age of 14. Ben has worked with Richard for over 20 years and is a potato farming expert in his own right. He has been pursuing the idea of producing a premium, local potato vodka since 2013.
Favourite drink
Vodka Martini – extra dirty
Jo Mordue
With husband Ben, Jo is fulfilling a 7-year dream of creating premium potato vodka. Jo is an animal-lover who has navigated through careers in equine, animal feed and food production. As a passionate marketer of Edwards 1902, Jo is proudly on first-name terms with supermarket staff having persistently trialled sample bottles on the shelves, in the quest for perfection.
Favourite drink
Espresso Martini
