Make mine a 'Vera Lynn': Care home residents create one of the world's best gins and wins Master Medal
Working alongside Oxfordshire distillery Sky Wave, the residents of Berkley Care Group have helped create ‘Golden Hour’, a bespoke London Dry Gin that has just been awarded a Master Medal - the highest accolade at the Global Gin Masters and one of the most prestigious awards in the spirits industry.
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This wasn't simply a branding exercise. After residents voted gin and tonic as their favourite tipple, they travelled to Sky Wave's distillery where they spent the day exploring botanicals, debating flavour profiles, and working alongside Master Distiller Andrew Parsons to create a gin inspired by their own tastes and decades of experience.
The judges clearly agreed. Golden Hour beat most entries from around the world, with only five Master Medals awarded from 159 gins entered by 81 distilleries, placing it among the very best gins in the world.
But for Berkley Care Group, the real story is about what happens when older people are treated as creators rather than consumers. Their knowledge, memories and opinions didn't just inspire the gin - they shaped it.
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Laura Perry, CEO of Berkley Care Group, said: “Our residents genuinely created this gin. They explored botanicals, challenged flavour combinations, and worked alongside expert distillers to produce something they were proud to call their own. Seeing their creation recognised on the global stage proves that creativity, expertise and great taste don't diminish with age.”
Andrew Parsons, Master Distiller at Sky Wave, adds: “We've created bespoke gins for prestigious organisations before, but never one shaped by so much life experience. The residents knew exactly what they liked, and Golden Hour is a direct reflection of their opinions. Winning the highest honour makes it even more special because this success truly belongs to them.”
Golden Hour is available to purchase online via The Sky Wave Distilling Company and is also served across Berkley Care Group's homes.