21/04/2010

Published by DemiJohn

York may be best known for its Minster and Vikings but visitors are flocking to a new foodies' heaven on Museum St - Demijohn, the first pure liquid delicatessen in England, with its huge glass vats of quirky, unique whiskies, liqueurs, oils and vinegars.

Opened in the autumn of 2009 Demijohn sells only liquid refreshments from demijohns, which are then decanted into the chosen size and shape of re-useable bottle. The contents are sure to excite the palate - Bramble Scotch Whisky Liqueur, Gooseberry Gin, Organic Rhubarb Vodka and a huge array of single cask malts.

Demijohn is unique - both its method of selling, which is similar to the continental markets, and the products it sells, which are all carefully sourced from small producers around the UK. Located on Museum St in York, just down from the Minster it is exactly the type of artisan shop that the fine food and drink movements are keen to promote. They also have shops in Glasgow (Byres Rd) and Edinburgh (Victoria St).

Visiting Demijohn is better than a trip to a bar as customers are encouraged to taste the products before purchasing which becomes an exciting adventure for the taste buds. The staff are more than sales people - they are passionate about the quality of the liquids and the provenance. Such is their passion they even close the shops occasionally and all head to the hedgerows to collect elderflowers for Elderflower Vinegar or sloes for the Sloe Gin to ensure the best raw ingredient goes into their products.

Founded by an innovative ex-Army officer, Angus Ferguson, Demijohn has gone from strength to strength, with growth of sales running at about 30% this year alone. Angus says: "We opened in York as it is a centre for fine food and drinks in the North of England and we wanted to offer customers unusual, good tasting drinks. We have already sourced some local Yorkshire products, such as a Chilli Rapeseed Oil from Wetherby and are currently developing other new products such as a Sloe Sherry jointly with a local liqueur producer in Malton to add even greater variety to our stable.

"Increasingly the British consumer and tourist are searching for unique hand-made British products that not only taste great, but have a known provenance that they can understand and relate to.  We at Demijohn are offering exactly this.  From our humble beginnings with one small shop in Edinburgh five years ago, we have converted many people all over the globe to our delicious products and way of selling..

"Sourcing our products is a wonderful but time-consuming business. We try and source most of our products locally,as we are committed to supporting good, local artisan producers."

Demijohn doesn't just sell alcohol. One whole area of the shop is devoted to unusual vinegars and oils. With flavours such as Elderflower Vinegar made near Edinburgh to the rich red Bramble Vinegar from Perthshire or beautiful, smooth olive oil from a small estate in Tuscany, there is something for everyone's tastes.

Angus adds: "We aim to be a highly eco-responsible company. We re-use materials wherever possible and in addition, our shops are fitted with ash shelves from the Dynamic Woods charitable organisation, which ‘rescues' beautiful native hardwoods that are felled but rejected by the commercial timber trade. We have also opted for re-useable delivery containers and ‘eco-friendly' corks."

Next time you visit York be sure to spend some time in this unique and exciting liquid deli.

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Demijohn

Tel: 01904 637487