Masons of Yorkshire unveils first vodkas
English producer Masons of Yorkshire has released its inaugural vodka range, including an espresso-flavoured expression.
The three variants – Espresso, Citrus and Classic – will initially be available exclusively in the on-trade for the next two weeks. Each expression sits at 40% ABV. Masons Espresso Vodka has been designed to tap into the popularity of Espresso Martini cocktails. It is vapour-infused with El Salvadorian coffee beans, supplied by Yorkshire roaster Rounton Coffee. Meanwhile, Masons Classic Vodka is described as having a ‘clean flavour’, and Masons Citrus Vodka is infused with fresh lemon and grapefruit. The new range follows the distillery’s £1 million (US$1.4m) investment, which included building a flavour development lab. Karl Mason, who co-founded Masons with his wife, Cathy, on World Gin Day in 2013, said: “We were the first distillery in Yorkshire to start making gin and this spirit of innovation has been our driving force ever since. “We wanted to create a range of vodkas with versatility, perfect for a simple serve or for whipping up into cocktails. “With the on-trade back open after a difficult 18 months, we’re proud to be giving them an exclusive first look at our new range of vodkas. With a hopefully busy autumn on the horizon, followed by a return to a festive party season, we think these new vodkas will prove popular with cocktail-loving consumers.” The Masons Vodka range will sit alongside Masons Gin. The brand produces more than 400,000 bottles of gin per year. Masons of Yorkshire suffered a fire in April 2019. A new distillery was opened just outside of the original Bedale site at a purpose-built unit on Leeming Bar industrial estate, north Yorkshire, in November 2019.
