THE brothers behind a Scottish vermouth have started surveying locations for a new headquarters following a successful £120,000 crowdfunding campaign.
Hitting its target in just two days, more than 170 investors backed Valentian Vermouth’s campaign on Crowdcube, launched to finance a new brand home, new hires and the development of new products expected next year.
Brothers Dominic and David Tait, who set up Tait Bros, have earmarked several locations around the Borders and launching a feasibility study into a preferred site near Melrose.
The plans include facilities for small batch production, as well as a licensed bar, taproom, and experimentation studio.
Valentian Vermouth has also made its first hire, with a new sales executive and brand representative for the west of Scotland due to begin in January.
It also hailed two new national Scottish wholesalers signing deals, as well as a host of new stockists including partnerships with renowned venues including Fhior, in Edinburgh, and The Gate and Bar Vini in Glasgow, the latter of which hosted a crowdfunding celebration event on Tuesday.
Valentian Vermouth also recently earned the highest award of Master at the prestigious Speciality Spirits Masters 2021, run by industry publication The Spirits Business.
The brand has appeared at trade shows including Speciality and Fine Food Fair 2021 at Olympia in London, where it was named amongst top 30 exhibitors, and Tait Bros plans to take the brand to further trade and consumer events in the next 12 months.
Tait Bros is preparing new Valentian Vermouth products, with two Christmas gift packs due for release in late November, and two new vermouths ¬– Valentian Vermouth Bianco and Secco – due for release in spring/summer 2022.
Dominic, 33, who runs Valentian Vermouth on a day-to-day basis, said: “The response to our crowdfunder was beyond anything we could have hoped for, and it’s an incredible feeling to see so many people put their faith – and money – in Valentian Vermouth.
“Consumers are getting behind us too, with sales strong, and the response from buyers has been fantastic.
"We are continuing to grow our portfolio of stockists across Scotland, and have new opportunities on the horizon throughout the UK."
Tait Bros is currently based in St Boswells in the Scottish Borders, in an area once known as Valentia, said to be the most northerly part of the Roman empire.
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