In a product launch video, the former Ukip and Brexit leader revealed three types of Farage gin – one red, one white and one blue – explaining that it was his “patriotic take on this quintessentially British drink” and had been developed by a couple in the Cornish garden shed. Farage’s raid on the spirits industry sparked skepticism and anger in Cornwall on Monday, with some critics expressing disgust that the millionaire champion of Brexit, which has caused millions of pounds of EU money to be lost in one of the poorest regions of northern Europe. using the party to further his business interests. Others have pointed out that denim has its roots in continental Europe. Perhaps most tellingly, gin producer after gin producer came forward to make it clear they had nothing to do with Farage Gin. Brad Kettlewell, salesman at Tarquin’s Gin near Wadebridge, said: “There’s no way we can make it for him.” Pocketful of Stones, in Penzance, said it was “a resounding no” when asked if they were involved. Craig Brook-Hewitt, head distiller and owner of Mother’s Ruin 1751 Distillery in Torpoint, said: “It certainly wasn’t us.” A spokesman for the All Under One Banner Kernow campaign, which wants Cornwall to be self-governing, said Farage was “mostly responsible” for the UK leaving the EU. “He is trying to cling to the image of Cornwall. He is a Great England chauvinist. Farage will do nothing for Cornwall. it will cause division and hatred.” In a promotional video, Farage said his jeans were “designed by a couple, literally grown in their garden shed using spring water”. He added: “I’ve tried it, I’ve tried it – it’s a great gin.” The red gin, he said, contained Kent cherries, while the blue got its color from gardenia flowers and the white had a hint of licorice. Farage described a story about his love of Cornwall: “I visited Cornwall for the first time in 1983. It was a fishing trip and I was 19. It seems a long time ago now, but my love for what I consider its most beautiful county England has not changed. “There’s no better way to end a busy Cornish day than with a glass of gin and tonic as the sun sets over the western horizon.” Craft denim has become a popular business in the Southwest, with dozens of small businesses producing their own iterations. One of the most popular is Cornish Rock Gin, which produces 6,000 bottles a month and sells to a range of hotels, pubs and restaurants. George and Angela Malde, 69 and 72, sound a lot like the couple Farage is talking about. They produce gin at their home near Camelford and have a spring in their garden. Also, as it turns out, they have a recent photo of them with Farage, taken at the nearby Camelot Castle Hotel in Tintagel, pinned to the wall of their shed/shop. Gin producers George and Angela Malde with Nigel Farage in a photo pinned to the wall of their shop. Photo: Jim Willeman/The Guardian George Malde retweeted Farage’s PR and when contacted by the Guardian on Monday, he accepted that the flavours, colors and shape of their bottles were very similar to Farage’s. He also admitted that he and his wife were friends with Farage. The Maldes have a colorful past. Before they made jeans, they used to own racehorses and were fined in 2001 following a trading standards investigation into counterfeit products. But they denied involvement in Farage Gin. “It’s not us – we’re too busy,” Malde said. He added that he was “not really on board with Brexit” and believed Cornwall had “lost out” after the referendum result. He also said the business had received an EU grant in its earlier days. Farage was not giving the game away. He said he hoped Brexiters would buy his denim to enjoy it and that maybe some would buy it as a “fun” gift for Remainers too. But he said he wouldn’t risk his associates becoming targets of haters. “There is a hard left violent hate mob out there and I would not expose anyone to that. That would be very unfair given the level of hatred in this country.”
