We’re James and Alison – a married couple with a young family and a shared ambition to create a business with heart, quality and character at its core. Over the years, life has changed in more ways than we could have imagined — but two things have always stayed the same: our love for bringing people together to share good times, and a long-standing dream to craft our own line of spirits.
Building our own distillery while juggling family life proved to be an adventure in itself
We’ve always been drawn to the small-batch distilleries scattered across the UK, fascinated by the care and creativity that go into every bottle. Each visit, each story, and each sip deepened our admiration – and quietly kept alive the hope that one day, we might do the same.
Then came the global pandemic — a time of uncertainty and reflection for everyone. For us, it also sparked something new: the courage to take a leap and finally create Saragusta Spirits. Of course, like many dreams, the reality was quite different! Building our own distillery while juggling family life proved to be an adventure in itself — filled with long days, steep learning curves, and plenty of moments of doubt. But through the hard work, we discovered just how rewarding it can be to turn a shared dream into something real.
The inspiration behind the spirits we create comes from everything that we treasure most – our family, our home and the memories we make. We share a deep affection for the city of Cambridge — the place where Alison was born and where our story, in many ways, began. From afternoons punting on the river and strolls along the cobbled streets to exploring the many museums with our children, Cambridge has given us countless happy memories. It’s a city that continues to inspire us, reminding us of the beauty of tradition, the joy of discovery, and the importance of taking time to savour life’s simple pleasures.
This is just the beginning. With so many more ideas bubbling away, we can’t wait to share new spirits and stories with you — and hope you’ll join us in raising a glass (and a smile) along the way.
