Jeremy Clarkson praised for The Farmer's Dog pub doing something “really important” as new 100% British rum arrives at bar

Former Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson has introduced a new product at his famed The Farmer's Dog pub after a struggle to abide by his self-imposed 100% British rule.

After opening the Oxfordshire venue, the Clarkson's Farm star vowed to stock only 100% British food and drink. The move meant cola, coffee or ginger beer could not be served, as they could not be sourced entirely from within the UK, with another high-profile absentee among the spirits - rum.

Traditionally, rum is made from molasses, a by-product of the sugar cane industry, which is fermented and aged before being bottled and sold. As sugar cannot grow in the cooler climes of the UK, Clarkson was left without a British rum option - until now.

After several years of rum production overseas, brothers Will and Rob Tapster founded Alkemy Distillery in Suffolk in 2021, with the aim of producing a unique new take on the classic spirit. Alkemy uses molasses from locally-grown sugar beet, rather than imported sugar cane, to make their rum.

Co-founder Rob said: "Alkemy is made in the same way as rum, but by using sugar beet, we end up with a different flavour profile. This means that the spirit has less of the more challenging flavours that you would associate with rum, and as a result, doesn’t have to have all the sugar added to make it drinkable. This makes the spirit more approachable, whilst keeping hold of the enjoyable part of rum."

The molasses for the spirit comes directly from the British Sugar factory in Bury St Edmunds, and travels an average of 35 miles from field to bottle, which Rob said offered significant benefits over traditional rum.

"It’s not just about the environmental impact of travelling less distance," he said. "It’s a new product that shines a light on local agriculture and promotes the importance of sourcing ingredients as locally as we can, in the most ethical way possible.”

Clarkson’s stance to back British agriculture is echoed by the distillery, which praised the Grand Tour star's ethos.

"We think that what Jeremy and the team at the Farmer’s Dog are doing is really important. It has made people ask a lot more questions about where some of their food actually comes from and how it is grown. There are a lot of positive things about agriculture in the UK, and I think we all agree that it could do with all the help that it can get."

Alkemy is now available at the Farmer’s Dog pub, in Asthall, Oxfordshire, and to purchase on the Alkemy website, or via Amazon.