The Severn Valley Railway (SVR) has today (Thursday 23 November) launched a new, coal-infused, railway-inspired gin, in collaboration with Piston Distillery, which was originally founded in Worcester.

The new gin has a rich fruit flavour with blackberries from hedgerows and wooden notes inspired by railway sleepers. It is made black in colour by crushed and blended charcoal, which represents the Railway’s history and steam-powered locomotives.

SVR is selling the new gin for £39.99 a bottle at its gift shops, and will make it available to buy online soon. Drinkers may also buy the gin at the SVR’s award-winning pubs The Railwayman Arms at Bridgnorth and The King & Castle at Kidderminster.

The Railway is also operating a Festive Gin Train in the run-up to Christmas. Gin lovers will be able to sit back and relax on board a heritage train, hear from Piston’s representatives about the botanicals and flavours that go into their brand, and enjoy the new SVR gin with a dash of tonic. The Festive Gin Train will run on Saturday 16, Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 December.

SVR’s festive programme also includes Santa Trains and the Enchanted Express.

More information is available on the SVR website.

SVR’s visitor experience manager Nicky Freeman said, “We’re excited to be launching this new and exclusive Severn Valley Railway Gin. The special blend of flavours combined with a hint of heritage railway has resulted in a coal infused gin which we hope will be a popular choice in the run up to Christmas.”

Grace Stringer, managing director of Piston Gin, said, “This has been an incredible project to be involved with, combining the history of the railway with Piston’s old school distillation methods. The end result is a refreshing, clean tasting Gin with a difference!”