Our mission is all about reconnecting drinkers to Wild Earth (Feragaia’s translation) within themselves and each other. Feragaia is a radically authentic alcohol-free spirit that redefines what you think you know about alcohol-free. Our social and environmental policy is a huge factor in our decision-making process and is seen as integral to the long-term viability of our business. As part of our commitment, and as a purpose-driven organisation we strive to help restore and protect Wild Earth and bring a net positive impact to the world.

As part of our environmental ambitions and sustainable development, we are using the B Corp process to implement the foundations of an Environmental Management system, of which we will build on annually. We support various purpose driven enterprises with financial contributions and using our platform to spread awareness of their messages. For example, McMillan Cancer Support, GreenSea Solutions, Protect Our Winters, NC500 and Seawilding.Our bottles are sitting prominently in a five-star display, rubbing shoulders with other leading drinks brands. Supporting environmental organisations, as an outward looking, purpose-driven enterprise we look to work with organisations that share out values. GreenSea Solutions Ltd is one such organisation that cultivates seaweed in Scotland. Reducing carbon emissions. Ambition is to become carbon negative as we grow our business. Currently, carbon is a key factor in our strategy going forward and the partnerships we start. We include a guide to reducing carbon in our employee handbook. Strives to be champions of the local economy. We are committed to hiring locally and working with local suppliers and services to support the local community.

JW: Yes, well, more of a long-term passion project. I’ve learnt I get great satisfaction from making things with my hands. Feragaia met the buyer from Harrods while exhibiting at Scotland’s Speciality Food Show in Glasgow in January. Come to Hoot the Redeemer if you like the idea of being transported to 1950s New Orleans. This fun-fair themed dive bar is an experience, offering iconic arcade games which invite guests to create their own concoctions (with a claw machine!). At Hoot the Redeemer, there is a surprise around every corner. Drink in the full atmosphere of this establishment and revel in the resulting sensation of child-like glee. Pioneering alcohol-free distillation, unlike most alcohol-free drinks we don’t use alcohol in the process. Our distillery made spirit is 0.0% as we believe this to be important if we want to achieve authenticity, transparency and premium.LM: What’s next in the pipeline for you? Can we expect new creations and versions of the Feragaia soon? Amber in colour, with a taste of clean complexity and warming finish, this is an open call to cut out the noise and take in the moments worth savouring.

This drink is progressively distilled, blended and bottled in the far reaches of the Scottish Lowlands, an area governed by centuries of spirit innovation. Most alcohol-free spirits rely on alcohol to carry flavour in the process, this is then stripped out along with natural flavours of the botanicals.Using our platform for good education and inspiring Feragaia drinkers to reconnect to nature behind them for their own health and to learn to respect our planet and its resources more. Meaning wild earth, the new alcohol-free spirit, which has an amber hue, is distilled, blended and bottled in the Scottish Lowlands. I got to the point in 2018 that I was prepared to do something about it – that’s when I spoke to Bill and Feragaia; the Original Free Spirit was born.

Combining traditional distillation techniques, the process brings together 14 responsibly sourced botanicals from both land and sea including flower, leaves and roots. JW: There are always big ambitious targets bumping around in my mind, ones that I know are unlikely to come off in the way I envisage them. However, they normally end up somewhere, and that’s progress for me. We regularly assess microbial, chemical and mineral content of water used and manage water sources appropriately.

How to make it....

JW: For a simple serving, I drink the ‘Wild Ginger’, which is Feragaia, Ginger Ale and a slice of lime. If I have a little more time on my hands, I concoct a Feragaia Sour. We make a seasonal ‘Spiced Pear Sour’ special, which I love. I can’t quite believe we launched a year ago and have endured the worst pandemic of recent years, but we’ve had this success. As part of our zero-waste commitment nothing goes to landfill, we use recycled and recyclable materials, have a low impact manufacturing process and we repurpose and reduce waste where possible. Feragaia never touches alcohol meaning it retains all the natural flavours and qualities of its ingredients.