Has Nigel Farage’s gin company been struck off?
Farage Gin, the spirit brand launched by the leader of UK political party Reform, appears to be in the process of being wound down, with less than £1,000 worth of assets to its name.
Nigel Farage, who led the Brexit charge in his former role of leader of the UK Independence Party (2019 to 2021), launched Farage Gin with his wife Laure Ferrari in 2022.
The range of spirits comes in Union Jack-inspired red, white and blue colours, and carries an RRP of £40 per bottle. According to Farage, the gin is produced “by an artisanal distillery in the heart of Cornwall”, and is the politician’s “patriotic take on the quintessentially British drink”. The red gin is said to contain cherries, while the blue gin gets its colour from gardenia flowers and the white has “a hint of liquorice”.
Shortly after news of the launch broke, Cornish gin producers rushed to confirm that Farage’s gin had nothing to do with them.
“There’s no way we would make that for him,” Brad Kettlewell of Tarquin’s Gin near Wadebridge in north Cornwall told The Guardian.
Pocketful of Stones, in Penzance, told the newspaper it was “a strong no” when asked if they were involved, and Craig Brook-Hewitt, head distiller and owner of Mother’s Ruin 1751 distillery in Torpoint, said: “It definitely wasn’t us.”
Commentators have surmised that Farage’s gin may be made by George and Angela Malde, friends of the Reform Party leader, who produce gin at their Cornish home near Camelford. They allegedly have a photograph of themselves posing with Farage pinned to the wall of their gin shop and have reposted Farage’s promotional social media posts about the gin in the past. However, the two have denied any involvement, with George Malde saying “we’re too busy.”
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Disappearing link
Farage Gin has previously been sold through a company called Baxter Laois Limited, based in Southend, Essex, about an hour’s drive from Farage’s Clacton home, as well as via Farage’s own online shop.
According to a report by The Mirror, despite having promoted the drink on his website, Farage has never declared any income from the product since he became an MP last July. However, the Farage Gin web link disappeared last autumn and the last Instagram post by @Faragegin was on 20 April 2023. The account currently has 821 followers.
Importantly, while the gin carries Farage’s name, it is his wife Laure Ferrari who is named as sole director and shareholder of the business.
Companies House
The Mirror claims that documents filed at Companies House last month reveal that an accountancy firm where Baxter Laois is headquartered has applied to strike Farage Gin off, with the company’s most recent accounts, up to October 2024, showing just £1,000 in assets and £11,000 worth of debt.
Asked about the closure, Mr Farage said: “No instructions to close the company have been sent. Will examine tomorrow with Companies House. Spoken to the accountant too. He is none the wiser.”
The Guardian reports that the Maldes were fined in 2001 following a Trading Standards investigation into counterfeit goods. There is no suggestion that the Maldes have committed any crime related to Farage Gin.
Last year, db reported on a possible correlation between voting choice and the electorate’s favourite alcoholic beverages, based on data from non-profit organisation More in Common. Cider emerged as the drink with the highest proportion of Reform Party supporters, with 21% of cider fans intending to vote for the party, revealed the survey.
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