A Foulsham-based farmer is launching her own range of homemade liqueurs as a commercial business – thanks to a cash-injection from her sister-in-law.
Corinne Holden is targeting upmarket restaurants, farm shops, and even Norwich nightclubs, with her flavoured vodkas and brandies.
But her dream of kick-starting the firm was only realised when her sister-in-law Bridget Holden invested £4,000 into the business so Corinne could buy juicing equipment and sandblasted bottles from glassmaking firm Langham Glass.
The start-up is the result of hours refining recipes to produce three distinct flavours: orange brandy liqueur, orange, lemon and lime vodka and chilli, lime and black pepper vodka with edible gold.
And she already has plans to develop two more flavours – lemon and mint vodka and Limoncello – if the venture proves a success. But the packaging of the liqueurs is still being improved to meet the needs of her potential customers, with a separate, cheaper, bottle being created for nightclubs.
The new business will operate alongside Corinne's current enterprise, The Local Farmer's Wife, which sells lamb and beef to restaurants and butchers.
It comes after her husband Neil Holden bought the 22-acre Wakefield Farm in Foulsham two years ago to rear sheep and horses.
'I started this side of the business because I wanted to make some extra money, as well as wanting to put my own twist on a vintage brandy recipe,' she said. 'It began in November last year, and by December I knew I had a product that I was happy with. We had our first tasting on Christmas Day.
'Then my sister-in-law decided to put some money into the business to help me buy the bottles and a electric juicing machine, so I could make a much larger quantity.
'The bottles have a sandblasted design, and I want to give restaurants the chance to get their own logo on there as well, so the liqueurs can have a special link to them.
'Our aim will be to recycle these bottles where we can.'
She added: 'I am booked into a Christmas fair this year where I plan to sell 90 bottles of the liqueurs.
'And I would like to get to a stage where I can sell it from our farm shop, or even develop an e-commerce site.'
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