Conservative candidate for Chesham and Amersham, Cheryl Gillan, visited the Griffiths Brothers Distillery in Amersham to see first-hand how they produce their famous gin.

Griffiths Brothers Distillery is a family run business, set up by two brothers who challenged each other to make gin in their spare time.

What started out as a hobby led to the creation of Buckinghamshire’s first micro-distillery, and the team eventually relocated to part of a disused 1930s aircraft factory.

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Alex, one of the brothers who founded Griffiths Brothers Gin, was keen to win the support of Cheryl Gillan for the UK Spirits Alliance.

The campaign calls on new government to fix and reform duty, recognising that a stable duty system delivers investment, growth and money for the public purse.

Alex Griffiths, Co-founder of Griffiths Brothers Gin, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Cheryl to our distillery. We’re really proud of the spirits we produce, so it’s great to get her support.

“If elected, we have asked Cheryl to take the message to Westminster that the best way to support businesses like ours across the country is to ensure the tax on spirits doesn’t rise in the budget, increasing the cost of a well-deserved gin and tonic for our customers across Buckinghamshire.”

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Dame Cheryl Gillan said: “It was great to visit an innovative business that has managed to get off its feet because we’ve been able to freeze duty since 2014 on the manufacture of gin.

“I will be campaigning to continue to hold that duty steady so that the unfair burden of tax doesn’t fall on small businesses like Griffiths Brothers, who are now generating employment and excitement in the gin business.”