Today I have some sad news to share. It has taken me some time to find the right words to bid farewell to our beloved Bentley, Co-Founder of Lantic. If you can, join me in raising a glass of Lantic G&T to Bentley, while we reflect on the past 14 and a half years together.

It’s a little longer than usual, but only fitting. At the end we introduce our newest recruit Arki, who is following in Bentley’s pawprints.

Bentley came into my life in exchange for looking after a farm in Cornwall for a few weeks. Without question, it was the best deal I’ve ever made. From the moment he arrived, he became my constant companion, filling my days with joy and boundless positive energy.

Living by the coast, we were blessed with countless beautiful walks right from the distillery. His favourite was the path down to Lantic Bay. He would race ahead to the beach, always pausing to glance back and make sure I was still following. It was during these moments, often a few hundred meters behind, that I found myself noticing the rich variety of coastal flora and fauna. It was here that the idea of creating a Cornish gin infused with wild foraged coastal botanicals first took root.

Together, Bentley and I traversed down to coves and clambered up cliffs, seeking out unique botanicals for the Lantic range. His enthusiasm for the adventure never waned, and he quickly earned the title of Lantic’s Head of Foraging.

Back at the distillery, Bentley oversaw countless distillations, his ever-wagging tail lifting my spirits through the frustrations of those early experimental days. As Lantic grew and the range expanded, we had to balance our time between our coastal expeditions and distillery work, but Bentley was always by my side.

Some of you may have had the pleasure of meeting Bentley at one of Lantic’s many food and drink festivals. Up until his last day, he attended nearly every event, eager to greet every Lantic customer personally—or to be found patiently waiting at the front of the queue at the nearest food stall.

Lantic Gin would not be what it is today without him. His spirit of adventure, his loyalty, and his unshakeable companionship are forever woven into the fabric of our wild-foraged gin.

While we continue to hold Bentley in our hearts, with all endings, come new beginnings.

I’m so happy to introduce you to Bentley’s protégé Arki, who has just completed his first 6 months of work experience at Skylark Distillery.

He has a lot to learn, whether it’s how to forage or when to stop chasing a squirrel.

Nonetheless, he has boundless energy and is thriving in his new role.

If you can, raise a glass of your next Lantic G&T to Bentley, and hopefully you’ll meet Arki at a Christmas fair coming up soon.

Chapter 9 | Goodbyes & Welcomes