New Sutterton gin distillery could see Moulton Windmill play an important role

Moulton Windmill could play an important role for a new gin distillery if plans are given the go-ahead.

F Craven & Sons has submitted an application which would see a change of use for two agricultural buildings at their Mill Farm site in Sutterton.

The proposed gin distillery would be accompanied by a shop, gin kitchen and staff welfare facilities - and Moulton Windmill could be used in the gin-making process if Boston Borough Council approve the plans.

In the application, F Craven & Sons say the wheat used to create the gin will be grown at their farm. It would then be transported to the mill, where the grain would be milled into flour.

The application adds: “The flour is then taken to a specialist alcohol manufacturing location in Oxfordshire where the gin mash water is produced. This is essentially the base liquid.

“The equipment needed to create the base liquid is extremely expensive and the facility in Oxfordshire makes the base mix for many customers making the investment there worthwhile, otherwise the entire process would be carried out at The Mill Farm.”

This would take place in the larger of the two buildings.

The base mix would be distilled at the Sutterton site, with a variety of botanicals added to create bottles of gin which would be both sold on site and exported.

Botanicals which can be sourced at the farm, such as sweet fennel and elderflower, would be used.

The larger building would also incorporate the gin kitchen, which would allow groups and individuals to attend events where they could learn to create and flavour their own gin.

Staff welfare facilities would also be located in this building.

If the application is successful, the smaller of the two buildings would be converted into a shop and tasting area.

A glazed link would then connect the two facilities.

Plans also state: “Only a small proportion of the grain grown on the farm will be used for the gin making process.

“The wheat ‘returns’ to the application site in form of the raw mash water in a 1 X 1000 litre intermediate bulk container which will be brought to the site once every two weeks in the back of a transit type van.

“The finished gin will be sent out on a daily demand basis via a standard courier on average, two times per week.”

Access to the facility would be gained via an existing entrance and driveway on Wigtoft Road.

This is separate to the main farmyard entrance, which would remain unchanged.