British potato farmer aims to lead vodka revolution

Vodka is the latest example of farmers driven to drink as they seek to make more from their resources in the ground. Gin, beer and wine are already part of Yorkshire agriculture’s burgeoning business romance with alcohol and its latest entrant David Rawlings of Priory Farm, Syningthwaite in North Yorkshire has already distilled success before a bottle has gone on sale. Priory Vodka made from a small acreage of David’s potato crop that is otherwise destined for McCain’s and McDonald’s fries won two prestigious Gold awards at the Global Spirits Masters in autumn 2017 with one judge describing it as “pure, fruity and floral”. “We’re hoping to make vodka the new gin. It’s the original moonshine that is talked about in American films and we feel the work we have all put into our potato vodka makes it stand out from the rest,” Rawllings said. More