Jeremy Clarkson has addressed a challenging local sourcing rule at his Cotswolds pub by adding a groundbreaking British-made rum to the menu.
The former Top Gear presenter purchased the pub, renamed The Farmer’s Dog, for around £1 million and reopened it in August last year. Since then, it has become a popular destination for visitors eager to sample Clarkson’s premium beer, Hawkstone, alongside an array of carefully selected drinks.
From the outset, Clarkson insisted that the pub must only serve products grown or made in Britain, banning items like ketchup or cola that don’t meet this standard. The 66-year-old declared, “If it’s not grown and reared in Britain, we’re not selling it, and that’s the end of it.”
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While this policy has drawn some controversy—particularly over the absence of classic condiments—it highlighted a more complex problem with one key spirit: rum. Traditionally crafted from sugar cane molasses, rum production requires raw materials unavailable in the UK’s cooler climate. Even with emerging rum distilleries on British soil, some form of imported sugar cane typically remains essential.
That barrier has now been overcome by Alkemy, a Suffolk-based distillery founded in 2021 by brothers Will and Rob Tapster. Alkemy produces rum using molasses derived entirely from locally grown sugar beet rather than sugar cane, creating a truly British spirit.
Co-founder Rob Tapster explains, “Alkemy is made in the same way as rum but uses sugar beet, resulting in a different flavour profile. Our spirit has fewer of the challenging flavours commonly associated with traditional rum and requires less added sugar, making it more approachable while retaining the enjoyable aspects of rum.”
The fermentation molasses comes directly from the British Sugar factory in Bury St Edmunds, traveling roughly 35 miles from field to bottle—supporting sustainability by minimizing transport emissions.
Rob adds, “It’s about more than just environmental benefits. Alkemy highlights local agriculture and the importance of ethically sourcing ingredients as close to home as possible.”
He praises Clarkson and The Farmer’s Dog for sparking conversations about the origins of food and drink, saying, “Jeremy’s approach encourages people to think more deeply about where their food comes from and how it’s grown. There are many positives in UK agriculture, and efforts like these help give it the support it needs.”