Walnut Tree Distillery

Heritage & History

Walnut Tree Distillery represents five generations of Norfolk farming heritage. Emma's family has worked the land for over a century, with records tracing their presence in local parish documents back five centuries. The distillery's gin-making tradition began three generations ago with Emma's great grandmother's sloe gin recipe, a craft passed down through the family and still produced using the original farmhouse method. Graham, a former research chemist at UEA with a PhD from Leicester, joined Emma to establish the modern distillery, blending scientific precision with agricultural tradition.

The Distillery & Production

Located in a converted dairy building on Walnut Tree Farm, the distillery operates as a true farm-to-bottle operation. All gins are produced in small batches using custom-built milk churn stills, each named after cows originally milked in the building. The signature ingredient is the walnut, hand-picked from trees surrounding the farm that give the distillery its name. Beyond walnuts, botanicals are sourced directly from the farm and hand-picked by Emma and Graham, ensuring every bottle reflects the specific terroir of Norfolk's Breckland district.

Gin Range & Character

The distillery's portfolio includes Norfolk Farmhouse Dry Gin as the flagship expression, complemented by Sloe Gin made using the family's original recipe, Spiced Gin, Pink Gin, Rose Gin, and Norfolk Farmhouse Summer Cup. Each gin begins with neutral grain alcohol and a carefully curated selection of local base botanicals. The approach emphasizes quality over quantity, with production methods that honour both the farm's agricultural heritage and contemporary craft distilling standards.

Farm Location & Setting

Situated in the heart of rural Norfolk near Lyng, the distillery occupies a working family farm in the picturesque Breckland region. The setting combines active agricultural operations with craft production, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into how traditional farming and modern artisanal distilling coexist. The farm's long history includes a connection to a local pub once owned by Emma's great grandfather, creating a continuous thread linking the property to Norfolk's social and commercial heritage.

Visitor Experience

The distillery welcomes visitors to its farm location, providing an opportunity to learn about small-batch gin production in an intimate, working environment. The converted dairy building serves as both production facility and showcase for the distillery's philosophy of farm-based craft production. Visitors can appreciate the custom milk churn stills and understand how local botanicals are transformed into distinctive Norfolk gins.