A Day in the Life at a Coastal Distillery
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a craft distillery? At Mounts Bay Distillery, every day is a blend of tradition, science, artistry, and hard work—all set against the stunning backdrop of the Cornish coast.
Join us for a typical day at our distillery, where the rhythm of the sea meets the rhythm of distilling, and the crackle of wood fires powers our craft.
Early Morning: Checking the Spirit and Stoking the Fires
Our day begins early, often before the sun rises over Mount's Bay. The first task is always checking on spirits in production—monitoring fermentation temperatures, inspecting barrels in our maturation room, and reviewing overnight readings.
But there's another crucial morning ritual: preparing our wood-fired stills. We're one of the few distilleries in the UK still using traditional wood-firing, and it requires planning and skill. We select local Cornish wood, check the fireboxes, and ensure everything is ready for the day's distillation run.
The coastal location means we're constantly aware of the weather. Humidity, temperature, and even the direction of the wind can affect our processes. On misty mornings, you can taste the salt in the air—the same salt that subtly influences our maturing spirits.
There's something almost meditative about walking through the barrel room at dawn, listening to the gentle creaking of oak casks and breathing in the complex aromas of aging rum. Each barrel is developing its own character, influenced by the coastal microclimate that makes our location unique.
Mid-Morning: Firing the Stills and the Art of Flame Distillation
When it's distillation day, the real magic begins. Unlike most modern distilleries that use steam or gas heating, we fire our two copper stills with local wood—a traditional method that demands constant attention and considerable skill.
Lighting the fires is a ritual in itself. The wood needs to be arranged properly to create consistent, controllable heat. As the flames catch and build, we carefully monitor the temperature rise, adjusting the wood feed to maintain the precise conditions needed for distillation.
Wood-firing creates a living, dynamic heat that's fundamentally different from steam or gas. The flames fluctuate and dance, requiring us to stay present and engaged throughout the entire run. There are no digital controls to set and walk away from—this is hands-on, traditional craft distilling at its finest.
We carefully watch for the exact moment when the heads (the first, volatile compounds) transition to the hearts (the premium spirit we're after). This is where science meets art—experienced distillers can smell and taste the difference, making split-second decisions that determine the quality of the final product.
The still itself is beautiful to watch, with vapor rising through the copper, condensing, and emerging as crystal-clear spirit. The copper is essential to our process—it removes unwanted sulfur compounds and helps create the smooth, clean character our spirits are known for. The radiant heat from the wood fires interacts with the copper in unique ways, contributing to the depth and complexity of our spirits.
Throughout the distillation run, we're constantly tasting and testing, making tiny adjustments to both the spirit cuts and the fire itself. It's intense, focused work that can last several hours, with one eye on the still and one on the flames.
Midday: Tending the Fires and Botanical Preparation
During a distillation run, midday means maintaining the fires at optimal temperature while managing the spirit collection. It's a delicate balance—too hot and you rush the process and risk harsh flavors; too cool and the distillation stalls.
For our gin production, this time also involves preparing botanicals. We source many ingredients locally—coastal herbs, Cornish botanicals, and traditional aromatics that give our gin its distinctive character.
Each botanical is carefully weighed and inspected. The quality of ingredients is paramount—we can taste the difference between fresh, vibrant botanicals and those past their prime. Some days we're experimenting with new combinations, testing small batches to develop limited editions or refine our core recipes.
This is also when we might meet with local suppliers—the farmers growing our botanicals, the wood suppliers providing fuel for our stills, the cooperage delivering new barrels, or partners who help us source the finest ingredients. These relationships are the backbone of craft distilling.
Afternoon: Barrel Management and Blending
Our maturation room requires constant attention. We rotate barrels, check for any issues, and most importantly, taste samples to track how each batch is developing.
Blending is one of the most skilled aspects of distilling. We're looking for balance, complexity, and consistency—bringing together spirits from different barrels to create a final product that's greater than the sum of its parts. It takes years to develop the palate and experience needed to blend with confidence.
The coastal environment plays a fascinating role here. The "angel's share"—the spirit that evaporates through the barrel—behaves differently in our humid, maritime climate than it would inland. We've learned to work with these conditions, understanding how they shape our spirits' development.
Late Afternoon: Bottling and Quality Control
When we're bottling, every detail matters. Each bottle is filled, labeled, and inspected by hand. We check for clarity, fill level, label alignment—anything that doesn't meet our standards doesn't leave the distillery.
This hands-on approach means we can guarantee the quality of every single bottle. It's slower than industrial production, but that's exactly the point. We're not trying to make the most spirits—we're trying to make the best.
Quality control also means regular testing and tasting panels. We taste our spirits alongside competitors, benchmark against our previous batches, and constantly ask ourselves: "Is this the best we can do?"
Evening: Cleaning, Banking the Fires, and Reflection
Distilling is glamorous, but it's also hard work. A significant part of each day is devoted to cleaning—stills, fermentation vessels, barrels, bottles, and every surface that touches our spirits must be immaculate.
At the end of a distillation day, we carefully bank the fires in our stills, ensuring they're safely extinguished and the fireboxes are cleaned and ready for the next run. Even this final task requires care and attention—wood-fired distilling is a commitment from first light to last.
As the day winds down, we review production logs, plan tomorrow's work, and discuss any challenges or opportunities. Craft distilling requires constant learning and adaptation. What worked yesterday might need adjustment today based on ingredient variations, weather changes, or new insights.
Sometimes, as the sun sets over the bay, we'll pour a dram and simply appreciate what we've created. These quiet moments remind us why we do this work—to create spirits that capture the essence of this place and bring joy to those who taste them.
The Rhythm of the Seasons
Beyond the daily routine, our work follows seasonal rhythms. Summer brings tourists eager to visit the distillery and taste our spirits. Autumn is harvest time for many of our botanicals. Winter is perfect for barrel aging, with cooler temperatures slowing maturation and developing deeper flavors. Spring brings renewal and experimentation with fresh ingredients.
Living and working by the coast means we're intimately connected to these natural cycles. We're not fighting against nature—we're working with it, letting the environment shape our spirits in ways that can't be replicated elsewhere.
More Than a Job
A day at Mounts Bay Distillery is never just about making spirits. It's about honoring tradition while pushing boundaries, respecting our coastal environment while harnessing its unique qualities, maintaining the ancient craft of wood-fired distillation while creating products that tell the story of Cornwall with every sip.
It's demanding work, but incredibly rewarding. Every bottle that leaves our distillery carries a piece of our daily dedication, our coastal terroir, the warmth of Cornish wood fires, and our passion for craft spirits.
We'd love to welcome you to experience it firsthand. Visit us to see the wood-fired stills in action, smell the botanicals, taste the spirits, and discover what makes a day at a coastal distillery so special.