Still Sisters (Friary Drinks) are two Frome companies, run by two sisters, but which share the same business values and core principles.

Community-driven in the widest sense, not only are they committed to local producers, but every time you buy one of their famed Somerset gins they donate to the environmental charity supporting the growth of community orchards.

They will be at the Frome Somerset Farmers Market at the Cheese & Grain on May 8, so what better time to get UP CLOSE and find out more about this company ?

Friary was launched back in 1996 by their father Ern, and now the sisters, Mistress Distiller Hannah Smith, alongside Director

Tori Jordan, have expanded and developed the company, while retaining its grounded philosophy.

We interviewed Tori about how she sings her sister's praises, even as they fight, but how they always agree on what is really important.

You are a family company - tell us about Friary Drinks and Still Sisters

"My dad worked in the alcohol industry his whole life as a health and safety executive working for brands like Babycham and Harvey's Bristol Cream. An engineer by trade, he took early retirement and, in a bid to keep himself busy, took to crafting liqueurs and engineering and designing our bottling line, which we still use 15 years later.

"In 2007 my sister joined the business part-time to allow dad to put his feet up. The business grew, and I saw an opportunity to help grow the business further. I completed a graduate scheme in retail straight out of university and have always loved working with people. In 2019 I completed a degree in chartered business management, taking on new and exciting projects, Still Sisters being one of these."

Exciting times for gin - and massive growth over the past few years - so you obviously have keen commercial instincts?

"I have been in the business since 2009 and have watched consumer behaviour change and develop into what is an exciting time for the drinks industry. Never before has there been such a range and selection of drinks available and I am always keen to find out the next area of growth. I love how many small producers pop up - it's a constantly changing industry which makes it so exciting to be part of. "

You also have a clear commitment to locally sourced ingredients and the community ?

"We work with local businesses and lovely people who share a great passion for their products. One of the main reasons I love what we do is the people we work with. We work with the lovely John Hurd and his organic watercress grown in Longbridge Deverill in our signature London Dry.

"Local means more time, thought, attention and care have been put into the drinks we produce. We distil our gin 50 litres at a time, so it is truly a small batch, which can be a little more expensive because we don't produce the volume of our larger counterparts."

You are very clear on being a sustainable and responsible business - what does that mean - and which of these is most important?

"We are sustainable and responsible for investing in the people we work with, our products and the community we live in. We are not profit-driven. We are driven by longevity, and to be a sustainable business, you need to be responsible for your people, the community you work in and the environment. Our business model doesn't look for big commercial wins at the cost of our business values.

" We have and do turn business away if it doesn't sit right with us and detrimentally affects our product, people or the community in which we work. We are responsible for our products, the people we work with, the community we work in, and the impact on the environment. Never before has being a responsible and sustainable business been more important. "

Working alongside your sister - how do you divide your roles?

"We have naturally fallen into our roles. Still Sisters was developed because we both have our strengths and weaknesses that complement each other. Hannah has a keen eye for detail; she is our mistress distiller and is very particular about crafting a perfectly balanced gin using exact measurements to ensure consistency across each batch; this is no mean feat!

" I am all about the people, the marketing and the branding. Hannah likes to craft away quietly and methodically whilst I sing and serve up her creations. "

Do you ever fight like siblings?

"Yes constantly! But mostly over taste and our very different opinions on what will work well as flavours. I don't think I know any siblings like us that are completely different. I am the blue sky thinker, and Hannah is the realist. I think all good businesses need a balance of both. One can't function without the other.

"Hannah loves our Lavender Gin, but I champion our signature Watercress. Still Sisters name comes from the fact we are sisters who distil gin and in the good and the bad times despite it all, whether we agree or disagree, we are Still Sisters. "

Still Sisters donates £1 from each and every 70cl Somerset Dry Gin sale to the only national charity dedicated to the creation, restoration and celebration of community orchards. Find out more about the Orchard project by clicking HERE: their site