Message in a bottle

It’s shandy – but not as you know it. Vodka with a heap of history and a slice of Yorkshire has arrived

It started with few crates of apples, a love of literature and a passion for a little corner of North Yorkshire. The home of writer Laurence Stern, namely Shandy Hall, in Coxwold, was the starting point for the creation of what has become an award-winning vodka called Broken Clock.

The drink, created by Andrew Kugaevskikh is the fruit of cross Pennine collaboration between Yorkshire and Cheshire. Broken Clock Vodka is made in Cheshire, using one of Ireland’s greatest literary humourists as inspiration and relying on Yorkshire for its vital ingredient.

Andrew was drawn to Shandy Hall after reading Laurence Stern’s works.

‘I am a big fan of Laurence Sterne’s The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. I discovered it by chance. My wife wanted something to read. I read it before her and was entranced,’ he explains.

‘I visited Sterne’s home, Shandy Hall, in North Yorkshire. I loved the place. Time seemed to stand still. Newburgh Priory’s clock (next to the Hall) was broken. Thus the name.’

Andrew had worked in the drinks business for a long time and Shandy Hall gave him inspiration for the last ingredient to create his own vodka – newly ripened windfall apples in Shandy Hall’s orchard – Broken Clock vodka was born.