Manchester based Moonshine company who appeared on Dragons Den launch brand new flavour for summer

A Manchester based Moonshine company who appeared on prime time TV show Dragons Den last year have launched a brand new Passion Fruit flavour for the summer.

Founded in 2016 by two friends called August Ullrich and Philip Morsink, the brand is inspired by America’s prohibition era - when the production and sale of alcohol was illegal.

During this period, farmers named their illegally manufactured spirits ‘Moonshine’, which they stored in mason jars before handing it over to smugglers called ‘bootleggers’ who went on to sell the product.

O’Donnell Moonshine uses this period of history as inspiration for the product, with its range of spirits and liqueurs sold exclusively in sustainable and reusable glass mason jars.

The products are vegan friendly and allergen free and the brand ensures its products are plastic free and encourage the upcycling of all its empty jars.

And Max Rüether, Managing Director of O’Donnell Moonshine has some tips on the other, novel ways the alcohol can be used....such as in baking.

He says: “People will look at our brand and their mind will go to drinks, and while that is our main offering, you can also incorporate our sprits into baking too.

“We even featured on The Great New Year’s Bake Off at the beginning of the year, where our products were used to make a Yule Log. We also have guides on how you can use our products for burgers, ice lollies, and pancakes - it’s something different, but I’d definitely recommend trying it.”

Other available flavours include Very Cherry, Sticky Toffee, Blood Orange, Lemon Drizzle and ‘High Proof’, a 50% ABV triple distilled spirit. Alongside the Moonshine bottles themselves, the brand has an array of giftsets and boxes, complete with shot glasses and pouring lids, that make for the perfect present.

The company last year appeared on Dragons’ Den, which saw the products scrutinised by business moguls Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies, Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett.

The product was well received, with Peter Jones drinking straight from the jar and coughing before saying: “That’s some serious s**t” as Deborah Meaden pointed out it was 25 per cent proof.

Max himself faced the dragons, while dressed authentically as a bootlegger in flat cap, white shirt and braces – alongside multiple mason jars filled with different flavours of moonshine.

Unfortunately, a deal could not be done on the day. But Max says he is pleased with the progress the firm has made.

He said: “We’re so pleased with the progress we’ve made as a business in its first few years – especially as we’ve worked through the pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis. We know that our customers love our unique concept and that’s what brings them back.”