Some businesses are built on spreadsheets and market research. Saragusta Spirits was built on something far more compelling – a long-held dream, a pandemic-era leap of faith, and a deep love of bringing people together over something genuinely worth drinking. Founded by married couple James and Alison in the heart of Cambridgeshire, this small-batch distillery is the kind of story that makes you want to raise a glass before you’ve even opened the bottle.

The spirits themselves are crafted using traditional copper still distillation – a method barely changed in hundreds of years, and for very good reason. The copper softens the spirit, smoothing out any harsh edges and letting the real flavours do the talking. James and Alison’s philosophy is refreshingly unfussy: less is more, every ingredient earns its place, and nothing goes into a bottle until the recipe hits exactly the right note. The result is a range of spirits that are versatile, distinctive and made to be enjoyed entirely your way.

Cambridge runs through everything Saragusta does. It’s the city where Alison was born, where the couple’s story began, and where afternoons punting on the Cam, exploring cobbled streets and museum trips with the kids have shaped the very soul of the brand. That spirit of discovery, tradition and savouring life’s simple pleasures is bottled – quite literally – in everything they make.

Whether you’re just finding your feet with craft spirits, a home bartender with ideas above your station, or a seasoned enthusiast hunting for something genuinely unique, Saragusta has something worth seeking out. Building a distillery around family life was, by their own admission, quite the adventure, but the results suggest every steep learning curve was absolutely worth it.