Dutch Barn Vodka In The Classic Lounge at Bridge Classic Cars

At Bridge Classic Cars, we want to give our guests a special experience every time they come to see us. That’s why we’re very excited to have a bottle of Dutch Barn Vodka in The Classic Lounge.

The Story Behind Dutch Barn Vodka

Dutch Barn Vodka was founded by Chris Fraser, in an old Dutch barn on Ellers Farm in North Yorkshire. After spotting unused apples in an abandoned orchard, Chris set about creating a high-quality vodka using British apples while also having sustainability at the forefront of his operations.

From a small pot still back then, Dutch Barn Vodka has now become a successful distillery, producing award-winning vodka that’s recognised not only for its taste but also for its positive environmental impact.​

The distillery uses local water sourced from beneath the farm, and the brown glass bottles the vodka comes in are made from over 60% recycled glass – far more than the industry standard for clear bottles​.

Plus, the distillery runs on renewable energy, reducing its carbon footprint even further.

Each batch of Dutch Barn Vodka is distilled a minimum of 70 times to make sure the finish is as smooth as possible. The apples are complemented by a small amount of potato spirit, adding a creamy texture that balances the natural fruitiness.

Ricky Gervais

In 2023, Dutch Barn Vodka was joined by comedian Ricky Gervais as co-owner of Ellers Farm Distillery​.

Ricky has taken on a creative leadership role within the brand, helping to share its message of quality, sustainability, and innovation. His aim is to bring Dutch Barn Vodka to a wider audience while ensuring that the company continues to produce exceptional, planet-friendly vodka​.

The Classic Lounge

Next time you’re at Bridge Classic Cars, you will have to have a glass of Dutch Barn Vodka and try it for yourself. Ricky Gervais is also set to be just down the road from the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Ipswich soon, so we will definitely be enjoying some of his vodka while he entertains our local friends.

UK Car Production

UK car production saw a drop of 8.4% in August, according to recent data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Traditionally, August is a low-production month anyway as a result of summer shutdowns, and this year’s decrease only amounted to 3,781 fewer vehicles, with 41,271 cars coming off the assembly lines.

This decline aligns with the ongoing trend seen throughout the year, as factories reduce the output of existing models and prepare to produce new ones, particularly electric vehicles (EVs). This shift follows last year’s announcement of £24 billion in investment into the UK’s automotive industry.

Production of electrified vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid models, took a big hit, dropping by 25.9%. This brought the share of electrified vehicles to 29.6% of total output. However, the fall is expected to be temporary as manufacturers transition to new models.

Domestic production experienced a steep decline of 19.8%. However, it’s worth noting that this figure is amplified by the typically low production volume in August, with most UK-made cars destined for export markets.

In comparison, exports decreased by 5.9%, largely driven by changes to models destined for the EU. The European Union remains the largest export market for UK-made cars, accounting for nearly half (49.8%) of exports. Other key markets include the US (17%), China (6.5%), Japan (5.1%), and Australia (4.4%), with notable growth in both the US and Japanese markets.

Year-to-date figures reveal an overall decline in UK car production of 8.5%, with a total of 522,823 units produced. Despite August’s domestic downturn, production for the UK market is up 12.3% for the year.