Local couple launch Sugar Skull Spirits in Penketh

Brian McCoy and his partner Becky are the proud owners of Sugar Skull Spirits, based in Penketh, where Becky has always lived.

The couple have launched Sugar Skull in the past year, but they say it has been a long time coming.

The couple have recently launched their own line of beverages from their Penketh distillery (Image: Sugar Skull Spirits)

In an interview with the Warrington Guardian, Brian said: "We started the business in the last six to eight months, but it took years in the planning.

"Becky was a landlady at a local pub back in the day, and before Covid-19 we started a gin events company.

"It was at that point we thought 'We could do this [for a living], let's go for it.'"

When asked what it was that made them get into the alcohol industry, Brian explained that they both enjoy good quality spirits, and it has been a passion project for the two of them.

They have ambitions of expanding the business in the future, as they are both currently working full-time jobs outside of their drinks business.

Speaking about the new business, Brian added: "It’s a part-time job that’s turning into a full-time dream.

"In all honesty, though, I don’t think anybody believed we would achieve it.

"We’re self-funded, we haven’t got a bottomless pit of cash; we’ve got three kids to sort out."

Despite the stresses of day-to-day full-time jobs, the Penketh duo have managed to craft high-quality products with rave reviews.

Brian said: "The feedback we’ve had has been phenomenal – and we're not saying that to blow our own trumpets, either.

"We offered to create a special gin to raise funds for Warrington Warriors to help send them to their week-long camp in Lanzarote next February, and £10 from every bottle sold will go to the Warriors - we’ve had great feedback on that bottle.

"Our citrus vodka and lemon and lime gins are all clear, and all flavoured using natural products. There's nothing unnatural in there, and people say it’s very refreshing."

The pair say they wanted to create high-quality beverages without the prices being too steep for people (Image: Sugar Skull Spirits)

In terms of cost, Brian said: "Lots of prices for craft spirits are out of reach of people – we try to keep costs down.

"We offer local delivery in the Warrington area, which means people don’t pay additional courier costs.

"We source ingredients locally, and that's a big focus for me. The local pound is worth twice as much and helps to give back to the local economy.

"We use Hollie’s Farm for fresh ingredients, and we try to keep things as local as possible."

For more information on Sugar Skull Spirits, visit the distillery's social media pages.